SCORES AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME TOMORROW IF THE DUTCH WIN THEY QUALIFY FOR THE LAST 16
I THINK IT WILL BE 3-0 HOLLAND
SNIDER (SP) RVP KUYT
Japan have never gone beyond the group stage of the World Cup outside their own country, but Monday's historic victory over Cameroon has given the Blue Samurai some much-needed self-belief. Takeshi Okada's team are being hailed as heroes in their homeland following their first-ever World Cup win on foreign soil, and they will go into Saturday's encounter against the Netherlands in confident mood.
Japan's hopes will again rest on the shoulders of Keisuke Honda. The 24-year-old was singled out by coach Okada before the tournament as the Blue Samurai's key man, and proved why with the match-winning goal against Cameroon. Japan have won all five matches in which the CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder has scored, keeping a clean sheet in all of them.
Japan may have contained a poor Cameroon side, but stopping the Dutch is a different matter. Bert van Marwijk's talented team may have been underwhelming in their 2-0 victory over Denmark, but the coach put their display down to nerves and has promised a more fluid performance on Saturday. Van Marwijk will again be without Arjen Robben, who continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, but an eye-catching performance from substitute Eljero Elia suggests the Dutch have a more than able deputy for the Bayern Munich winger.
The only previous meeting between these sides was in September last year, when the Dutch ran out 3-0 winners but were outplayed for an hour by Okada's side. "The first hour of that match Japan were in charge," Wesley Sneijder told reporters this week. "Our coach said that was the only match our opponents really made it difficult for us, so let that be the only one."
Head-to-head
- These side have only met once before, in September 2009. The Netherlands won 3-0 thanks to goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
- Van Marwijk's side are unbeaten since September 2008 (a 2-1 defeat to Australia in Eindhoven), a run of 20 fixtures.
- The Dutch have a 100% record against Asian opposition at the World Cup: they beat Iran 3-0 in 1978, Saudi Arabia 2-1 in 1994 and South Korea 5-0 in 1998.
- Monday's 1-0 win over Cameroon was their first ever World Cup victory on foreign soil.
- That victory ended a run of four straight defeats for Okada's men.
- Japan have faced European opposition in their second group game in each of their three previous World Cup finals appearances (losing 1-0 to Croatia in 1998, beating Russia 1-0 in 2002 and drawing 0-0 with Croatia in 2006).
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)
Assistants: Ricardo Casas and Hernan Maidana (Argentina)
Fourth official: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
I THINK IT WILL BE 3-0 HOLLAND
SNIDER (SP) RVP KUYT
MATCH PREVIEW
Japan have never gone beyond the group stage of the World Cup outside their own country, but Monday's historic victory over Cameroon has given the Blue Samurai some much-needed self-belief. Takeshi Okada's team are being hailed as heroes in their homeland following their first-ever World Cup win on foreign soil, and they will go into Saturday's encounter against the Netherlands in confident mood.
Japan's hopes will again rest on the shoulders of Keisuke Honda. The 24-year-old was singled out by coach Okada before the tournament as the Blue Samurai's key man, and proved why with the match-winning goal against Cameroon. Japan have won all five matches in which the CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder has scored, keeping a clean sheet in all of them.
Japan may have contained a poor Cameroon side, but stopping the Dutch is a different matter. Bert van Marwijk's talented team may have been underwhelming in their 2-0 victory over Denmark, but the coach put their display down to nerves and has promised a more fluid performance on Saturday. Van Marwijk will again be without Arjen Robben, who continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, but an eye-catching performance from substitute Eljero Elia suggests the Dutch have a more than able deputy for the Bayern Munich winger.
The only previous meeting between these sides was in September last year, when the Dutch ran out 3-0 winners but were outplayed for an hour by Okada's side. "The first hour of that match Japan were in charge," Wesley Sneijder told reporters this week. "Our coach said that was the only match our opponents really made it difficult for us, so let that be the only one."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- These side have only met once before, in September 2009. The Netherlands won 3-0 thanks to goals from Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas Jan Huntelaar.
Netherlands
- Van Marwijk's side are unbeaten since September 2008 (a 2-1 defeat to Australia in Eindhoven), a run of 20 fixtures.
- The Dutch have a 100% record against Asian opposition at the World Cup: they beat Iran 3-0 in 1978, Saudi Arabia 2-1 in 1994 and South Korea 5-0 in 1998.
Japan
- Monday's 1-0 win over Cameroon was their first ever World Cup victory on foreign soil.
- That victory ended a run of four straight defeats for Okada's men.
- Japan have faced European opposition in their second group game in each of their three previous World Cup finals appearances (losing 1-0 to Croatia in 1998, beating Russia 1-0 in 2002 and drawing 0-0 with Croatia in 2006).
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina)
Assistants: Ricardo Casas and Hernan Maidana (Argentina)
Fourth official: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
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