Netherlands 2-0 Denmark

I'll tell you something for nothing; while we predicted the win, which is seven correct results out of nine now, we are a little disappointed with the performance from the Netherlands. They didn't really look the side we had expected - they looked more like England.

We mean no disrespect to England, it's just that should always do better than they do and you always think you'll get a great game and it is rate that you do. Today, the Dutch looked ordinary and if it wasn't for a lot of luck, they wouldn't have won.

The first goal was an own goal, scored moments after the second half resumed by Simon Poulsen and the second was scored after the ball came off the post, from probably the best chance the Dutch had in the whole game, and landed at the feet of Dirk Kuyt in the last five minutes.

You could argue that they were not pushed or threatened and it is valid and I hope that as the games get harder for them they will get better, but if it doesn't they won't go very far and certainly not where the 16 million people back home want them to go.

Netherlands

Stekelenburg, Van Der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst (c), Van Bommel, De Jong, (De Zeeuw, 88), Sneijder, Van der Vaart (Elia, 67), Kuyt, Van Persie (Afellay, 77)

Denmark

Sorensen, Poulsen, Kjaer, Agger, Jacobsen, Poulsen, Jorgensen (c), Kahlenberg (Eriksen, 72), Enevoldsen (Gronkjaer, 56), Bendtner (Beckmann, 62), Rommedahl

The Netherlands, a team who has never won the World Cup but is always a threat, began the group stage against Denmark on Monday, June 14, 2010. A loss for Denmark would put them in a tough spot to qualify for the knockout stage so a result was crucial. The Dutch are the clear favorites to win the group.

Netherlands 2-0 Denmark Video Highlights

The match highlights can be found here at Free Soccer Highlights.

Netherlands 2-0 Denmark Recap

The Dutch would start the 2010 World Cup with a solid 2-0 win over fellow UEFA side Denmark.

Overall, it was a good performance from the Netherlands who had about 66% of possession and limited Denmark to three shots on goal. The goals for Holland were scored by Simon Poulsen (own goal) in the 46th minute and Dirk Kuyt in the 85th minute.

The Netherlands will place Japan next while Denmark faces Cameroon.

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Netherlands 2-0 Denmark Match Stats

Netherlands Denmark

19(6)	Shots (on Goal)	11(3)
13	Fouls	21
6	Corner Kicks	2
4	Offsides	2
66%	Time of Possession	34%
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
3	Saves	5

Japan and Cameroon almost bore entire office to sleep

Japan beat Cameroon in a match that I didn't expect much from and ultimately I wasn't disappointed. It does mean that we have only predicted seven out of ten matches correctly this World Cup and we also fancy our little run is coming to an end after predicting a draw between Italy and Paraguay.

But Italy and Paraguay are for later. For now, we have to look at Japan and Cameroon and I really did nod off for a moment in the second half when nothing seemed to be happening.

(Japan)

I'll be honest with you, I'm going to struggle to try and find something to write that isn't going to sound bad against either side so I'm going to say little. It isn't how you start a tournament, it is how you end and Japan just got lucky today, because both sides were awful and they just took the opportunity when it presented itself - Cameroon had a couple too.

(Cameroon)

So, I can tell you that it was Honda that scored for Japan and that I'm not sure the cross was meant for him, but he was in the right place at the right time and that is all that matters.

Japan

Eiji Kawashima, Komano, Tanaka, Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Abe, Endo, Matsui (Okazaki, 68), Hasebe (c) (Inamoto, 88), Honda, Okubo (Kisho Yano, 81)

Cameroon

Hamidou, Assou-Ekotto, N'Koulou, Bassong, Matip (Emana, 63), Makoun (Geremi, 75), Enoh, M'bia Etoundi, Eto'o (c), Choupo-Moting (Idrissou, 75), Webo

Two sides who are aiming to make it out of the group stage met on Monday, June 14, 2010 as Japan faced Cameroon. A loss for either side would probably end their chances to make the knockout stage with matches against Denmark and the Netherlands.

Japan 1-0 Cameroon Video Highlights

The match highlights can be found here at Free Soccer Highlights.

Japan 1-0 Cameroon Recap

The Japanese would get a very important win with a first half goal from Keisuke Honda.

It was a match that was largely controlled by Cameroon but they failed to find the final pass or finish to score a goal. Japan had few chances but the one they did have was converted. A cross was sent into the box where Honda received the pass, was unmarked, and then scored from close range.

It was a disappointing result for Cameroon who couldn’t convert chances despite having the better of play.

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Japan 1-0 Cameroon Match Stats

Japan Cameroon

3(2)	Shots (on Goal)	9(2)
20	Fouls	29
0	Corner Kicks	3
4	Offsides	2
43%	Time of Possession	57%
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
2	Saves	1

Italy - Paraguay - Daniele De Rossi scores to save a point for Italy

For a moment, there was an upset on the cards as Paraguay went in at half time 1-0 up, but actually the goal only served to wake Italy up because in the second half, they were a different team and they could have won.

( Paraguay)

n fact, I'll go so far to say had they played the first half like they played the second, they would have won, but they didn't and they would have learnt a lesson from that.

Paraguay are clearly not in South Africa to make up the numbers. They played some good football at times and I suspect they came out in the second half wanting to keep what they had rather than push for more, which didn't work out.

Italy clearly missed Andrea Pirlo in the middle but he will be back and if Italy can play like they did in the second for the rest of the tournament, then they will be hard to beat, if only because they will create chances.

( Italy)

Antolin Alacaraz put Paraguay ahead in the 40th minute when a free kick, from what seems like the Paraguay half it is that far out, is played in long and he jumps higher than everyone else to head the ball into the net past Buffon. They took the lead into the break.

After the break, Buffon didn't come back out and Italy had a job to do and they were well up for it. It took nearly twenty minutes for them to get the equaliser and it came from a corner. Simone Pepe crosses and the Paraguay keeper comes but doesn't get anywhere near it and Daniele De Rossi finds the ball at his feet. I wouldn't have missed that and he didn't.

Final score was 1-1 and Italy will be happiest but also maybe a little disappointed. Paraguay won't try to play a half of football defending again and if you are following our predictions, you will know that is eight out of eleven correct - who would have predicted a draw; just us!

Italy

Buffon (Marchetti, 46), Criscito, Chiellini, Cannavaro (c), Zambrotta, De Rossi, Pepe, Marchisio (Camoranesi, 59), Montolivo, Iaquinta, Gilardino (Di Natale, 72)

Paraguay

Villar (c), Morel Rodriguez, Da Silva, Torres (Santana, 60), Alcaraz, Caceres, Vera, Caceres, Riveros Nunez, Valdez (Santa Cruz, 68), Barrios (Cardozo, 76)

The 2006 World Champions began their Group Stage of the 2010 tournament against CONMEBOL side Paraguay. Italy come into this World Cup with almost no one picking them to repeat as champions. Paraguay know that any result in this match would put them in good position to move into the knockout stage.

Italy 1-1 Paraguay Video Highlights

The match highlights can be found here at Free Soccer Highlights.

Italy 1-1 Paraguy Recap

Paraguay would take a lead into the second half and were heading for victory until a goalkeeper mistake allowed Italy to get a 1-1 draw.

Overall, it was a good match for Paraguay who took the lead in the 39th minute with a Antolin Alcarez goal to make it 1-0. Unfortunately they would not hold onto it as Italy tied the match in the 63rd minute with a Daniel De Rossi goal. The goal shouldn’t have happened but the Paraguay goalkeeper misplayed a corner kick that allowed an open net for De Rossi.

The match would end at 1-1 with a point for both sides.

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Italy 1-1 Paraguay Match Stats

Italy Paraguay

10(5)	Shots (on Goal)	7(1)
15	Fouls	14
8	Corner Kicks	4
3	Offsides	5
57%	Time of Possession	43%
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
0	Saves	4

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