The picture isn’t any clearer than this. While the Netherlands have ensured a spot in the knockout stage and Cameroon is already out, Japan and Denmark have one game and everything on the line to decide who reaches the last 16.
This is the biggest game in Group E because it is essentially an elimination game. Japan can either win or draw to advance. (They hold the tiebreaker in goal differential). However, Denmark must win to advance.
Japan started off the tournament well with their first win in World Cup history with a 1-0 win over Cameroon before losing 1-0 to the mighty Dutch.
Denmark started with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands before recovering to beat Cameroon 2-1 to set up the showdown with Japan.
Japan’s coach Takeshi Okada expects his team’s best performance to date in their match: “To win such a big match, I think in a sense we need something beyond the team’s tactics,” he said. “I really want the players to fight with a solid mentality.” Okada, like many football experts, expects this to be a very close game. “It would be ideal if we can overwhelm the opposition by 10 goals. But it won’t be that easy. I think it’s going to be a very close, fierce match.”
Okada’s team has an opportunity to do the unthinkable and advance to the knockout stage for the first time in Japan’s history. Okada admitted that his team lacked certain flair against the Dutch, although they were up against a much more talented team. They played the usual football, which has been under fire from critics since Hidetoshi Nakata retired following the last World Cup. Fortunately, CSKA striker Keisuke Honda has offered some spark and gives the Japanese a goal-scoring threat. However, and unfortunately, his coach has not put him in the midfield where he can orchestrate a play. Okada has opted to place the young Honda at striker.
One advantage that Denmark holds over Japan is their height. The Danish average about eight centimeters taller than the Japanese team. This yields an advantage in situations such as headers, free kicks, etc… Okada is understandably concerned about the mismatch. “How to deal with their height in set plays and their long balls will be our main issues,” he said. He added “We have to be sure about how to maintain a solid defense against them.”
Denmark’s hero against Cameroon, striker Nicklas Bendtner, is well aware of his height advantage over the Japanese defenders and is eager to use it to aid his team to victory. “We have to win, so they can play very tactically. But we have a few advantages we can use, including our height” he said. The striker, however, may have to miss the game as he has an injured groin.
There are some things we can expect from this game. We can expect the Danes to be the more aggressive team. They need the win to advance, while Japan only needs a draw. This works out well in Japan’s favor as they are the more passive, defensive team and will be very satisfied with a draw. The Danish will have their hands full as they have to score to move on. It is possible that Japan is unlikely to switch their tactics and will opt for containment.
Denmark’s coach Morten Olsen worries about the likeliness of Japan to indeed sit back and try to hold off Denmark for a draw. “It’s difficult these days to score against defensive teams,” he said. “But we know what we have to do.”
Both teams will play their game with their utmost potential, so the only question is: Whose game will be more effective?
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