The Easy Escape from Group E

Hello, It has taken a while to get around to reviewing Group E. This is not entirely, but mostly because I personally found this group incredibly uninspiring. You have the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. One team to walk it and a battle between three average teams to progress? maybe - just maybe.

In qualifying the Netherlands won their group without dropping a point - and looked pretty damn good in the process. People may be unsure about backing them to go far as they have regularly underachieved, however they would surely have no problem at all getting through this group.

Perhaps it was harsh of me to write off Denmark immediately as an average team. They finished top of their qualifying group ahead of Portugal and have one or two quality players. Yet, Portugal looked poor in qualifying and one or two players does not make a team.

Japan seem to be perennial qualifiers now and always work very hard as a team. In qualifying however they only managed a second place finish behind Australia - ahead of the lofty nations of Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan. The competition wasn't great, but they are there and will always be hard to beat.

Cameroon are one team that I thought may cause some upset. They smashed through their qualifying group and look like a powerful side with a few very talented members of the team. Samuel Etoo especially is one player who could grace any side at this World Cup.

Well it started somewhat predictably with Netherlands seeing off Denmark with ease - a 2-0 and pretty comprehensive victory. However, the other opening game in group E really raised the eyebrows. Japan and  Cameroon stood toe to toe for the majority of the game with neither the power of Cameroon or the industry of Japan winning out. However the only goal of the game just before half time won it for Japan and got their World Cup alive and kicking.

Another decent performance from Japan saw them battle well with Netherlands and they were unlucky not to get something from the game. A commanding performance from Wesley Sneijder saw the Dutch home. The other game posed a lot of interest as both teams needed to perform after registering defeats in their first game. It looked like Cameroon had finally woken up after a poor performance in the first game when they took the lead in the 10th minute. However to give Denmark credit they worked hard and kept themselves in the game - they equalised before half time and then they were the team to get the decisive goal and take the points. Cameroon were out after just two games.

The final round of games looked a straight case of a battle for second between Japan and Denmark. Cameroon may play for pride but it didn't seem likely that they would raise their game against Holland. Well they did raise their game, but they were not quite enough to trouble the Netherlands ultimately and this led to a 2 -1 defeat. second place then would be decided elsewhere...

Everything would point at Japan vs Denmark being one of the tightest games in history, with two teams both equally desperate to progress to the second round. Though Japan clearly had not thought about it this way and entertained as they used their attacking ability and excellent tactical game to break through the Danish defence and take a 2 - 0 lead within 30 minutes. The Danes did come out fighting in the second half - but it was too late and they went down 3-1 to a spirited Japanese team.

Well, The Dutch were predictably strong and would be a tough team to play in the competition. However, they would face much tougher tests than the ones in this group. Japan were fresh and interesting - they seemed to play without fear and were one entertaining team in this World Cup. In Keisuke Honda a star player had emerged to take centre stage. Hopefully they would continue to perform.