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Match Day 4


MrJibbles

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June 14 1230: Holland v Denmark (Soccer City, Johannesburg) - ITVJune 14 1500: Japan v Cameroon (Bloemfontein) - BBCJune 14 1930: Italy v Paraguay (Cape Town) - BBC

Not for the first time at a major tournament, the Netherlands go into the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ among the favourites, though the Oranje have to kick off their Group E campaign against a tough-looking Denmark side on 14 June. Having so often boasted a world-class squad, only to fail to fulfil their potential due to internal squabbles or over-confidence, will the Dutch contingent get it right this time?The matchNetherlands-Denmark, Group E, Johannesburg, Monday 14 June, 13:30 (local time)The Netherlands may have the edge on Denmark in terms of big-name performers, but the two sides’ head-to-head record makes for interesting reading. The pair boast two wins apiece from five competitive matches, the Dutch scoring ten goals to the Danes’ nine, while each tasted success in the 1988 and 1992 editions of the UEFA European Championship respectively.The teams also share a lengthy list of injury concerns, with Danish Dynamite boss Morten Olsen, himself has laid low by flu for several days, having to do without key striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin strain) and facing doubts over keeper Thomas Sorensen (elbow) and defenders Simon Kjaer (knee) and Patrick Mtiliga (thigh). His Dutch opposite number Bert van Marwijk will be unable to call on Bayern winger Arjen Robben, who has a hamstring injury, although he does have a top-class replacement available in Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.On top of his walking wounded, Danish coach Olsen will also be concerned about 1-0 warm-up defeats by Australia and host nation South Africa on June 1 and June 4 respectively, though the Danes did sink Senegal 2-0 on May 27. The Dutch, for their part, have not been beaten since a September 2008 friendly reverse against the Socceroos, though should hold few surprises for their opponents. Indeed, five Denmark players ply their trade in the Netherlands’ Eredivisie and another four share a dressing room with Dutch players at their Premier League clubs.Players to watchDaniel Agger v Robin van PersieThe two players experienced mixed fortunes in English football this campaign, with Daniel Agger a solid presence for Liverpool despite the Reds ending a disappointing season down in seventh spot. Meanwhile, Van Persie’s lengthy injury absence was undoubtedly a key factor in Arsenal’s inability to finish higher than third.It was the Gunners who won the clubs’ head-to-head meetings in 2009/10, 2-1 at Anfield and 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium, though Van Persie missed both of those games. More relevant, therefore, is the fact that the quicksilver Dutch striker scored the last time the two players faced off, in a 1-1 draw in December 2008.The stat19 – Van Marwijk’s side come into South Africa 2010 on the back of a record unbeaten run of 19 games, beating their previous mark of 17 set between 2001 and 2003.What they said“We have a special kind of arrogance that is one of our strengths. But we shouldn’t let it go too far, otherwise it can become a handicap and we become careless. And when arrogance leads you try to humiliate the opposition, they’ll definitely kick back against it. Right from day one I’ve been trying to get that through to the players,” Bert van Marwijk, Netherlands coach.“I don’t regard the Netherlands as among the World Cup favourites. They often start off strongly and then suddenly lose a crucial game and crash out. That can always happen when they play a well-organised side, which this time could be Denmark. They are missing their most in-form player, Arjen Robben, and they’re not as strong at the back (as they are going forward),” Dennis Rommedahl, Denmark winger.Voice of the fans“The Elftal will finally win the World Cup I have been longing for since 1978, when at the age of 14 I was mesmerised by the Dutch and their dazzling football. Since then every tournament in which the Oranje played has been an emotional rollercoaster of beautiful football and fatal arrogance. But this time it will be different. Come on the Netherlands and win the cup!” FIFA.com User oranjepiet.The questionCan the outsiders rediscover the spirit of Danish Dynamite and bring the Netherlands’ lengthy unbeaten run to an end? Or will Rommedahl’s dismissal of the Dutch’s chances come back to haunt him?
Mangaung/Bloemfontein hosts its first game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ on Monday, a Group E contest pitting Cameroon against a Japan team who managed to win just one of their four warm-up matches, scoring a solitary goal. But the Indomitable Lions have not enjoyed the best of results recently either, drawing two and losing two of their own preparatory friendlies. This encounter between two teams potentially short on confidence already has a decisive air about it as, with group rivals Denmark and the highly-fancied Netherlands waiting around the corner, neither side will favour starting their second match on the back foot.The matchJapan-Cameroon, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Monday 14 June, 16.00 (local time)Paul Le Guen's Cameroon players may claim a psychological edge from the fact the west African side have never lost their opening FIFA World Cup match in five previous appearances. For their part, Japan can take comfort from the fact that they have never lost to Cameroon, nor have they even let in a goal. This game will be the first time that the countries have faced each other outside of Asia, their previous matches coming at the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2001 and in two later friendlies in Oita.Both sides took relatively trouble-free routes to the global showpiece. While the four-time African champions finished top of their group in both qualifying rounds, Takeshi Okada's Japan claimed second place behind Australia, thereby avoiding the dreaded Asian Zone play-offs. Indeed, were it not for their propensity to draw matches, they may well have finished ahead of the Socceroos. They will want to kick their newly-acquired habit of gifting goals to the opposition: three of the last four goals they have conceded were self-inflicted, with two of these own goals coming in a 2-1 friendly defeat by England.That said, Cameroon may not need any extra help from the Japanese defence, since they are able to count on the services of a certain Samuel Eto'o. As well as providing his team with some much-needed firepower, the Inter Milan striker will be out to show that he is worthy of the celebrity status accorded to him in Africa, especially in the absence of some of the continent's other star names, such as Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel. The first-ever FIFA World Cup on African soil gives Eto'o the perfect opportunity to showcase his not insignificant skills.Key duelMarcus Tulio Tanaka v Samuel Eto'oThe tricky task of marking Cameroon's fearsome front man will fall upon the sizeable shoulders of Marcus Tulio Tanaka. The Sao Paulo-born Japanese international defender will have a five-centimetre height advantage over Eto'o and should be primed for the physical challenge. He proved in a recent friendly with Côte d'Ivoire, in which he accidentally injured Didier Drogba, that he is not one to shirk a tackle. The only black mark against his name is a tendency to put the ball into his own net – he was responsible for two of the three aforementioned own goals and Japan could do without him completing an unwanted hat-trick against Eto'o and Co.The stat23 - The number of goals scored by each side during their respective qualifying campaigns. The Africans attained the total in 12 matches, while the Japanese did it in 14.What they say"I'm expecting it to be just like an away match, but we'll make the best of it. We'll just need to concentrate on our game and show that we have a solid team," Keisuke Honda, Japan midfielder."We've worked very hard and we feel ready. We'll be playing against a team with a pacy front line, but we've come up against that before and will deal with it. It'll be difficult but we'll manage," Sebastien Bassong, Cameroon defender.Voice of the fans"My dear, beautiful country. My Indomitable Lions, strong and brave. Your warm-up results did not augur well, but knowing that you are all 'lionhearts', I'm very optimistic. We'll definitely get past the first round," hugo2010-89 (Cameroon).The questionThe Japanese have never won a FIFA World Cup match beyond their own borders. Will they manage to put an end to this run against Cameroon? Or will the African side's defence perform better than it did in the run-up to the competition, when shipping seven goals in four matches?
The defending world champions make their 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ debut against Paraguay in a match that ought to have a major bearing on who tops Group F. And not for the first time in their history, the men in blue will be heading into their opening match with several questions to answer.The matchItaly-Paraguay, Group F, Cape Town, Monday 14 June, 20:30 (local time)Those doubts are largely founded on Marcello Lippi’s decision to keep faith with nine of the players who tasted glory in Germany, a policy of continuity that has not met with the unanimous support of Squadra Azzurra fans. “It’s only a month and there’s no problem,” said the silver-haired coach, responding to criticism that his side is too old. “And in any case, the best broths are cooked in the oldest pans.”The experienced Italians should face a stiff test from Los Guaraníes, who finished third in the CONMEBOL qualifying zone, just behind Chile on goal difference. Traditionally hard to break down, the South Americans have acquired a deserved reputation as one of the best-drilled sides on the continent.The two previous meetings between the sides both went Italy’s way, La Nazionale securing a 2-0 win at Brazil 1950 and a 3-1 victory in a 1998 friendly. La Albirroja have been impressive in the build-up to the world finals, however, losing only to Republic of Ireland and beating Korea DPR and Greece and earning a creditable draw with Côte d’Ivoire.Players to watchLucas Barrios vs Fabio CannavaroRepresenting the country of his mother’s birth, the Argentina-born Borussia Dortmund forward, only obtained Paraguayan nationality a few months ago. Coach Gerardo Martino had little hesitation in calling him up to the squad to fill the void caused by the tragic shooting of star striker Salvador Cabanas. Barrios certainly looks the part, scoring 19 goals for the Bundesliga club in 33 games last season, his first in the German top flight.One of the men attempting to shackle him on Monday will be the Italian stalwart, who is appearing in his fourth and last FIFA World Cup. Cannavaro has not enjoyed the best of seasons with Juventus, although few players have his ability to hit peak form at major tournaments. The 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year may be in the twilight of his career, but there is little question he still presents a formidable obstacle for opposing forwards.The stat1-1: Italy failed to win either of their warm-up games for South Africa 2010, losing 2-1 to Mexico and drawing 1-1 with Switzerland, not that too much should ever be read into Azzurri form on the eve of the competitions that matter. In fact, that stalemate with the Swiss is an encouraging omen for the Italians, who recorded exactly the same score against their northern neighbours in their final matches before Spain 1982 and Germany 2006, competitions that they went on to win.What they said“We don’t have a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, Leo Messi or Wayne Rooney, and we can’t play like Brazil, Spain or the Portuguese. But when it comes to defending there’s no one that can match us,” Fabio Cannavaro, Italy defender.“This is going to be a midfield battle, without question, and it’s sure to be competitive. We’ll be working hard on playing the ball around and having some possession, though. That’s the way to hurt Italy,” Enrique Vera, Paraguay midfielder.Voice of the fans“Come Monday the whole world will stop underestimating us and they’ll see that we’re serious candidates for the title. People don’t put Paraguay in the same category as Spain, Brazil, England, Netherlands and Argentina because we don’t have the star names, but we have more than enough quality and I know we can show that,” FIFA.com user bnjalbirrojo.The questionWho will come out on top in Group F?
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Got my Holland top one today as standard, been a fan since, 1990 :D/Lets hope they can finally deliver, the mid and attack is sick
Trust-------------RVP-------------Sneijder --VDV--Afellay---V.bommel--De Jong---Hopefully they line up like this
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Got my Holland top one today as standard, been a fan since, 1990 :D/Lets hope they can finally deliver, the mid and attack is sick
Trust-------------RVP-------------Sneijder --VDV--Robben---V.bommel--De Jong---Hopefully they line up like this
Robben won't play..he will be replaced by Kuyt or Babel
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Denmark XI: Sorensen, C. Poulsen, Kjaer, Agger, Jacobsen, Jorgensen, Kahlenberg, S. Poulsen, Enevoldsen, Rommedahl, BendtnerHolland XI: Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, De Jong, Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Van PersieGuys like Van Bronckhorst and Rommedahl still getting into their national teams.

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