It’s all over in Durban and the Dutch grab their second win of the tournament, but weren’t at all convincing in doing so, although that probably has a lot to do with Japan’s organisation at the back and in midfield. Very disappointing game, but the Dutch will care little as they are virtually assured of qualifying for the knock-out stages. Final score in Durban. Holland 1-0 Japan.
FULL TIME
For a minute there, I was sure that referee Hecotr Baldassi had pointed to the penalty spot after De Jong challenged Nagatomo in the penalty area, but the Argentine ref was actually signalling a goal kick. Good job too, because it was never a penalty.
From one substitute to another, Okazaki has a chance to equalise at the death for Japan but scoops his left foot half volley over the bar from a narrow angle. We’re into injury time in Durban.
Afellay has had as many chances in five minutes as Japan have had for the wole game but again the substitute can’t finish Japan off. Kawashima makes the initial save and Tulio Tanaka, running back, almost diverts it into his own net. Nakazawa saves his blushes and clears it off the line.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar will get a few minutes to show what he can do. The Milan striker is on for Robin van Persie.
Man of the match is awarded to Wesley Sneijder who probably deserves it for his goal, but he was the best of a bad lot to be honest.
Afellay has a great chance to win it for Holland, but the substitute’s first touch is way too heavy and he gets to close to Kawashima in the area. The keeper smothers the ball and Japan are let off the hook.
Ibrahim Afellay on instead of Wesley Sneijder for the last eight minutes or so.
Japan don’t look like getting an equaliser at this stage. They were decent for a few minutes after Sneijder’s goal but have struggled since. Holland, with over 60% of the possession, are crusing late on.
Not sure about taking Okubo off, he was Japan’s biggest threat. Holland looking a lot more comfortable now with just over ten minutes to go in Durban.
Double change for Japan, Okazaki and Tamada will come on to try and nick an equaliser in the last few minutes. Hasebe and Okubo making way.
Chance for the Dutch to break and get a second but Van Persie’s ball towards Sneijder is overhit and bobbles away to safety.
Van der Vaart replaced by Elia, who was very impressive when he came on against Denmark in the opening game.
Down the other end, Komano sends a great low ball across the area from the right but nobody can get on the end of it. Van der Wiel clears it for a corner.
Brilliant cross from Wesley Sneijder from the left that bounces just beyond Van Persie in the six yard box. Far better second half from Sneijder.
Okubo has another go for the Japanese, from the left this time but his strike goes wide of the far post. He’s been Japan’s most threatening player.
Nakamura comes on for Matsui, who I thought had been playing pretty well for the Japanese. The Dutch should be wary about giving free kicks away on the edge of the area, Nakamura can strike a cracking free kick.
Holland have been very sloppy in possession since going ahead. Shunsuke Namaura about to come on for Japan.
Japan have picked it up a notch since the goal. Endo and Okubo in particular seem hungry for the ball.
Okubo with a decent effort in respone for Japan. He strikes one from the edge of the area but was off balance when hitting it and didn’t get any power as a result. Easy for Stekelenburg.
Well that was coming since the break as Holland have been far better. Van Persie lays it off at the edge of the box and Wesley Sneijder smashes in a half volley that Kawashima can’t handle and it hits the back of the net. Great strike from Sneijder but awful goalkeeping. It was straight at Kawashima and didn’t seem to move much in the air. Holland have deserved that for being more positive after the break.
GOAL Holland!!!
Great free kick from Van der Vaart was sailing right towards the head of Kuyt at the far post but Tulio Tanaka stretches his neck like a giraffe and heads it to safety.
Van Bommel with a long ball over the top onto the feet of Van Persie but he fails to connect properly with his volley. Better from the Dutch.
Van Persie with the first chance of the half for Holland from Van Bronckhorst’s cross but his header is weak, there was no pace on the cross. Easy for Kawashima.
Back underway in Durban, let’s hope the second half has a lot more to offer than the first.
Replays of Okubo’s flash of skill being shown at the break. Definitely one for the showboat reel, quality that was all too lacking in the first period.
Desperately poor half from two teams that should be a lot better. Japan if anything, have had the better of it but haven’t created any meaningful chances. The Dutch have been disappointing and completely lacking ideas. Robben is sorely missed from their first XI.
Half Time.
The fourth official is Martin Hansson, the Swede who failed to award a free kick for Thierry Henry’s handball in Paris. The fact that he and the French are at the World Cup and we’re not is still difficult to swallow.
A point of course, would be a pretty decent result for both teams so maybe they’ll be content to keep it tight and play for a draw. Not losing seems to be the main priority, which it has been for too many teams in the tounament.
Sneijder and Van der Vaart in particular have offered very little for the Dutch, who, despite the amount of bodies they have in midfield, haven’t had much possession.
Honda with an extremely speculative effort from a free kick about 45 yards out. It does almost hit a cameraman though, which would have been the most exciting thing about this half. It’s been pretty poor after a decent opening.
Decent effort by Matsui from the edge of the area, but his left foot volley is straight at Stekelenburg who grabs it easily. Japan doing most of the pressing but chances are few and far between.
Endo sends in another free kick that is met by Tanaka at the back stick, but the big defender can’t get his header back across the goal. Endo can whip in a ball though.
Van der Wiel gets the first yellow card of the game after a cynical chop on Matsui, who did brilliantly to control the ball from a height and take it past the Dutch right back.
Endo’s free kick lands on the head of Honda, but his header is high and wide. He wasn’t expecting the cross to reach him and couldn’t react in time.
Van Bronckhorst is a bit shaken after Komano leaves the foot in and catches him just above the crown jewels. Everything still in place though and the left back is fit to go on.
Van der Vaart rifles a cross that is cut out by the face of Nakazawa, who doesn’t flinch at all. He has a really cold, hard, kamikaze pilot look about him, the Japanese defender.
Okubo with some lovely skill down the left but his run is brought to an end by renowned hatchet man Nigel de Jong. It was a fair tackle this time though.
The Dutch playing a very high line at the back. France found out how dangerous that can be against Mexico the other night, especially if there’s pace up front and Japan have Honda in their attack. Enough said.
Everything’s neat and tidy but with no real penetration so far, from both teams.
Stekelenburg kept a clean sheet in his opening WC game like Edwin van der sar and Jan Jongbloed before him the RTE commentary informs us. Jongbloed’s name is actually pronounced ‘young blood’. It’s a pity his folks weren’t more imaginative with his christian name.
The Japanese look really tidy in midfield. With the players the Dutch have in the centre of the park, you’d imagine it would be them bossing things, but it’s Japan that have had a lot of the ball so far. Matsui in particular looks a real quality player.
Super effort from Nagatomo on the left wing after some lovely interplay in the Japanese midfield. The left back fizzed a shot in from the left but it went narrowly wide of the far post. Lively game so far.
Sorry folks there were a few technical difficulties with our sub-standard TV here in JOE Towers but we have the pictures back and it’s still 0-0 so hopefully we haven’t missed too much.
Underway in durban
Darragh Maloney suggests a night on the tiles might be exactly what England need. If Capello is like any GAA manager worth his salt in this country, he would have had his charges ‘off the beer’ for a good month before the competition.
Predictably, all the talk ahead of Holland and Japan in the RTE studio revolves around…England. Johnny Giles is spouting a number of conspiracy theories – training is too hard, players not getting on etc. Didi Hamann has no choice really but to agree with him.
Teams:
Holland: Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Jong, Kuyt, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Van Persie.
Japan: Eiji Kawashima, Komano, Tanaka, Nagatomo, Nakazawa, Abe, Endo, Matsui, Hasebe, Honda, Okubo.
Good afternoon folks and welcome to JOE’s live coverage of Holland and Japan in Durban. The World Cup has finally started to provide us with some decent fare…until England’s game against Algeria last night of course. Plenty of attacking talent in the Dutch ranks while the plucky Japs will try and make it as awkward as possible for Van Persie, Sneijder and company. Just under half an hour to go to kick off. Teams to follow shortly.
