Group E: Honda drives Japan through; Dutch finish off unblemished run
By AVI CREDITOR
If Keisuke Honda wasn't the household name between soccer fans around the universe prior to the World Cup, he many certainly is now.
Honda, who plays for CSKA Moscow, buried the miraculous giveaway flog to spearhead Japan's wilful attainment over Denmark which cemented Japan's place between the final sixteen teams. Japan got out of the organisation theatre for only the second time, as well as the initial time upon foreign soil, relating the attainment achieved by 2002 World Cup co-host South Korea.
The Samurai Blue accomplished 3 points at the behind of the Netherlands, which accomplished off Cameroon to run by Group E unscathed. The Dutch have been sitting pretty, with the Round-of-16 matchup with upstart Slovakia subsequent upon the agenda. Japan will encounter Group F winner Paraguay, whose run is utterly the story in the own right. The South Americans won their organisation notwithstanding personification though star striker Salvador Cabanas, who is still miraculously recuperating from the gunshot wound to the head.
Here have been brief recaps from Thursday's Group E games along with the group's Best XI:
NETHERLANDS 2, CAMEROON 1
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar accomplished in to an empty net after an Arjen Robben shot rebounded to him off the post in the 83rd minute, as well as the Dutch accomplished their perfect run by the organisation theatre by taming the Indomitable Lions.
Robin Van Persie had given the Oranje the lead after the pleasing 1-2 flitting sequence with Rafael Van der Vaart put him in upon goal. He tucked his shot by Cameroon screw Souleymanou Hamidou's legs for the 1-0 lead in the 36th minute.
Van der Vaart was called for the sport upon the Cameroon giveaway flog in the second half, heading! to the Samuel Eto'o penalty flog which scored equally the game in the 65th minute.
Robben, who was entrance off the hamstring injury, done his initial coming of the World Cup when he entered as the 73rd-minute substitute. He done his presence known almost immediately, by turning as well as curling his shot upon frame which flog Hamidou though not the post. Huntelaar pounced upon the giveaway round as well as guided it in to the behind of the net for the winner.
For Cameroon, the highest ranked African group in the World Cup field, the detriment accomplished off the dismal tournament, as the group lost all 3 of the matches.
JAPAN 3, DENMARK 1
After withstanding the little early pressure from Denmark, Japan capitalized upon dual giveaway kicks as well as dumbfounded the favored Europeans in to acquiescence by halftime.
Honda stepped up in the 17th notation as well as hit as accurate the giveaway flog as there has been during this World Cup from about 30 yards out. Denmark screw Thomas Sorensen took the wrong initial step as well as Honda done him pay, tucking his left-footed shot in to the left upper-hand dilemma of the goal.
Just thirteen minutes after the Japanese struck again. Yasuhito Endo blindsided everyone upon the representation by taking the straight line giveaway flog whilst Honda stood over the round looming removing ready to strike. Endo twisted the right-footed, 25-yard explosion around the wall as well as in to the idea to double the lead.
Denmark, which indispensable the win to advance, sliced the deficit in half after Daniel Agger was gifted the penalty after frequency being shoved in the box. Jon Dahl Tomasson stepped to the spot as well as had his flog saved by Eiji Kawashima, though he tapped the rebound in to get the Danes upon the house in the 81st minute.
The Japanese defense held up after that, as well as Honda worked his magic again with the gorgeous run to emanate for surrogate Shinji Okazaki in the 87th minute. Okazaki! accompl ished off the sitter as well as dealt the final blow to Denmark's hopes.
GROUP E FINAL TABLE
1. Netherlands.....9 points, +4 Goal Differential
2. Japan.................6 points, +2 GD
3. Denmark...........3 points, -3 GD
4. Cameroon........0 points, -3 GD
SBI'S GROUP E BEST XI
------Honda-----------Kuyt----------Okubo-------
----Endo--------Sneijder-------Van der Vaart----
--Van Bronkhorst--Kjaer---Nakazawa--Tanaka--
---------------------Stekelenburg------------------
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How far do we think the Dutch can go? Impressed by Honda? Think Japan can topple Paraguay? Shocked which Cameroon couldn't muster the singular point?
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