Double Dutch and the Danish save their bacon

Holland are guaranteed a place in the last 16 after two wins in two rather unconvincing wins. Taking on the ever industrious Japanese the Dutch walked out 1-0 winners. It wasn't by any means the most entertaining of games and the Netherlands will be progressing without coming close to the type of football people were hoping or indeed that the Dutch themselves were expecting to play. It's a good place to be, in the last 16, missing one of your world class players and - in theory - still have your best football ahead of you. The decision to go with both Sneijder and Van der Vaart insted of adding a natural wide man again made the Dutch sluggish in midfield as it became over crowded with no outlet out wide except Dirk Kuyt who is as unspectacular for Holland as he is for Liverpool. Japan harried and carried for the whole game. They were lacking in attacking guile and flair but certainly had opportunities to draw themselves level. Tulio looks a fairly accomplished player and Honda's work rate puts even Kuyt to shame. The energy they expend in pressing the ball is phenomenal and rarely did they look like flagging during the 90 minutes.

Once Elia was brought on and the game spread out a little that things started to change, Japan struggled to press with such efficiency as the amount of ground they had to cover increased by almost a third. Holland with a quick wide man certainly looked likely to create more, but also allowed the Japanese to move more freely through the middle. De Jong and Van Bommell really showed their worth at crucial moment during this game. With Robben yet to feature and Van Persie not quite up to pace, the Dutch can certainly feel things are going in the right direction, and whilst not sparkling, winning is winning.There's a lot more to come from this group of players and Dirk Kuyt will be right there alongside them. Their backline is yet to be tested and cameroon could offer some test with Samuel Eto'o a truly world class striker, as he showed against Denmark.

Denmark will have gone away happy with the win over Cameroon, but the style of the win should leave them in some doubt of progression into the next round. Cameroon are going home after their second defeat, they can consider themselves unlucky with the chances they created. After the failed experiment of playing a world class striker on the wing failed in the first game Paul le Guen -Rangers shortest tenured manager - brought Eto'o into the middle and it brought results almost immediately. Playing on the right for Inter Milan with the likes of Milito at a teams disposal, playing Eto'o on the right when he's far and away your best player is baffling. The commentators (Martin Keown I believe) suggested Samuel Eto'o didn't step up in the first game and rovide the goals he needs to, I'd suggest playing him out of position in this situation leaves him somewhat handicapped. t took him just 10 minutes and some horrendous Danish defence, starting with Sorenson to get on the score sheet. After that the game became incredibly open. Play was end to end, Rommedahl squandered some promising situations early on before getting his a-game on and setting Bendtner for Denmark's first on the half hour mark a lovely ball across the the face of goal and Bendtner's leg seemed to extend forever in a go-go-gadgetlegs footballing parody. It really was like watching school ground football.

The second half continued in the same vein with both teams coming close, though rarely working the goalkeepers, Sorenson made a couple of smart saves and it was Denmark who finally broke the draw when Rommedahl found himself in the box and created the yard of space he needed and bent the ball round the keeper into the far corner, it was far to easy for him. Tomasson should have put the game beyond doubt with two golden chances but showed the finishing prowess that made him so popular in Newcastle, Stuttgart and Villareal. Cameroon continued to create half chances but a lack of composure, wrong choices, and waayward shooting meant they are the first African team to leave 'Africa's' world cup. I think more could and should have been expected of Cameroon, alas though they're off and Denmark live to fight another day. Next up they face the Japanese, both fighting for a last 16 place. Denmark will be hard pressed to get away with that kind of performance again.