Host Nation's World Cup Armchair Diary: Day Nine

The fact that it has taken almost nine full days to confirm the first nation in the last sixteen and the first nation making an early trip home is testament to the fact that we are in for one of the tightest and most intriguing group stages in recent memory. So much for this becoming the dullest World Cup in history...



So yes after some frustratingly cautious and low-scoring opening games, the majority of the 32 sides in South Africa had adjusted accordingly, got a feel for the surroundings, pitch and Jabulani ball, and more importantly for many, avoided that harrowing first game defeat.

Better still, the combination of games one and two have and are promising to continue to present some big games on match day three, which begins Tuesday. Group E on Saturday provided one of those kind of games, as well as placing a name on the second round shortlist and turning thirty-two into thirty-one.

Seeded nation Holland, stylish but not so convincing against a fire Denmark in their opening game, produced more of the same against an organised and capable Japan outfit who used their dangerous counter-attacking play to stun Cameroon. And while throughout the match there were many signs of what both sides had to offer if the game burst open, unfortunately it didn't.

The only goal of the game had as much fortune about it as Agger's own goal and Dirk Kuyt's tap in which sealed the Dutch victory over the Danes. Wesley Sneijder latched onto a poor clearance pinballed around the danger zone with one of his trademark scorchers, which clipped the outside of Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima's hands in a meek attempt at a parry, the ball flying in on the opposite side as a result.

The biggest positive for the Japanese at the moment is that qualification is firmly in their hands, hands which (with the exception of Kawashima's) have shown to be more than capable of pulling off victory and playing decent football, and the toughest game of the group is now out of the way.

Nonetheless, a draw between Denmark and Cameroon would have been ideal for Japan. Instead, we saw a Danish side (eventually) show far more talent, continuity and promise than in their opening contest, and who came back from a nightmarish piece of defending which allowed Samuel Eto'o to draw first blood with goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Dennis Rommedahl to send the Dutch through and Cameroon out.

In a contest which wildly fluctuated from open and action-packed to wary and stalemated, Cameroon paid the price for the lack of cutting edge that cost them dearly against Japan and showed that it takes more than talented individuals and enthusiasm to survive on the biggest stage in world football.

Ajax winger Rommedahl's goal was the pick of the three: the ex-Charlton man weaved into the box from his usual destination deep on the right flank and curled a low shot into Soleymanou Hamidou's blind spot by the far post.

It will be advantage Japan in their second round with their one-goal superiority over the Danes in goal difference meaning they will advance in the event of a draw. Denmark have now proven that they can create goals when their backs are against the wall, but it will nonetheless be tough to break down the Japanese defence as well as cope with the threat on the counter.

Sandwiched between the two E games on Saturday was the Group D follow-up to Serbia's shock victory over Germany the day before. With that result blowing the group wide open, it was down to either Ghana or Australia to take advantage and boost their chances of edging through. In reality, neither really did.

The Socceroos shocked a Ghanaian side buoyant after their late win over Serbia by taking the lead after just eleven minutes. Ghana keeper Richard Kingson couldn't cope with a difficult Mark Bresciano free-kick and fumbled it to the feet of Brett Holman for the tap-in.

However, halfway through the first period the Ozzies shot themselves in the foot with a silly hand-ball by Harry Kewell on the goalline which earned the former Leeds star a straight red and led to another Asamoah Gyan penalty for the equaliser.

Ghana then spent an hour showing the world that they have less killer instinct than the Serbians had the day before, with several chances being particularly wasteful and leaving Australia feeling somewhat relieved that their red cards in two WC games hadn't led to an early exit.

With their only two goals coming from twelve yards against ten men so far, the Black Stars are flattering to decieve and despite leading the group after two games with four points, must now play Germany and at least earn a draw to be assured of their progress.

Australia meanwhile must beat Serbia and hope that the side that showed little sharpness in the final third in this very game can either defeat Germany or failing that, lose by as many goals as possible so that the Ozzies can overtake them (Ghana currently have five goals on Australia).

THE GAMES SO FAR:

1. Argentina v South Korea, Group B, June 17 (4-1) - 9
2. United States v Slovenia, Group C, June 18 (2-2) - 8.5
3. Germany v Austrailia, Group D, June 13 (4-0) - 8
4. Spain v Switzerland, Group H, June 16 (0-1) - 8
5. Brazil v North Korea, Group G, June 15 (2-1) - 7.5
6. South Africa v Mexico, Group A, June 11 (1-1) - 7.5
7. Denmark v Cameroon, Group E, June 19 (2-1) - 7.5
8. Chile v Honduras, Group H, June 16 (1-0) - 7
9. South Africa v Uruguay, Group A, June 16 (0-3) - 7
10. Nigeria v Greece, Group B, June 17 (1-2) - 7
11. Ghana v Australia, Group D, June 19 (1-1) - 6.5
12. Argentina v Nigeria, Group B, June 12 (1-0) - 6.5
13. Germany v Serbia, Group D, June 18 (0-1) - 6.5
14. New Zealand v Slovakia, Group F, June 15 (1-1) - 6.5
15. France v Mexico, Group A, June 17 (0-2) - 6
16. Ghana v Serbia, Group D, June 13 (1-0) - 6
17. Holland v Japan, Group E, June 19 (1-0) - 6
18. England v United States, Group C, June 12 (1-1) - 6
19. South Korea v Greece, Group B, June 12 (2-0) - 6
20. Japan v Cameroon, Group E, June 14 (1-0) - 6
21. Holland v Denmark, Group E, June 14 (2-0) - 6
22. Italy v Paraguay, Group F, June 14 (1-1) - 5.5
23. Cote d'Ivoire v Portugal, Group G, June 15 (0-0) - 4.5
24. England v Algeria, Group C, June 18 (0-0) - 3
25. France v Uruguay, Group A, June 11 (0-0) - 3
26. Algeria v Slovenia, Group C, June 13 (0-1) - 3

THE GOALS SO FAR:

1. Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico, June 11) 9
2. Higuain [3] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 9
3. Birsa (Slovenia v United States, June 18) 9
4. Forlan (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 8.5
5. Maicon (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 8.5
6. Podolski (Germany v Australia, June 13) 8
7. Yun-Nam Ji (North Korea v Brazil, June 15) 8
8. Rommedahl (Denmark v Cameroon, June 19) 8
9. Donovan (United States v Slovenia, June 18) 8
10. Ljubijankic (Slovenia v United States, June 18) 8
11. Klose (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
12. Ji-Sung Park (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 7.5
13. Muller (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
14. Bendtner (Denmark v Cameroon, June 19) 7.5
15. Elano (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 7.5
16. Uche (Nigeria v Greece, June 17) 7.5
17. Gerrard (England v United States, June 12) 7.5
18. Bradley (United States v Slovenia, June 18) 7
19. Heinze (Argentina v Nigeria, June 12) 7
20. Reid (New Zealand v Slovakia, June 15) 7
21. Higuain [1] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 7
22. Honda (Japan v Cameroon, June 14) 7
23. Pereira (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 7
24. Hernandez (Mexico v France, June 17) 7
25. Cacau (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7
26. Alcaraz (Paraguay v Italy, June 14) 7
27. Eto'o (Cameroon v Denmark, June 19) 7
28. Sneijder (Holland v Japan, June 19) 7
29. Jovanovic (Serbia v Germany, June 18) 7
30. Chong-Yong Lee (South Korea v Argentina, June 17) 6.5
31. Fernandes (Switzerland v Spain, June 16) 6.5
32. Beausejour (Chile v Honduras, June 16) 6
33. Jung-Soo Lee (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 6
34. Kuyt (Holland v Denmark, June 14) 6
35. Koren (Slovenia v Algeria, June 13) 6
36. Holman (Australia v Ghana, June 19) 5.5
37. Higuain [2] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 5.5
38. Marquez (Mexico v South Africa, June 11) 5
39. Salpingidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 5
40. Dempsey (United States v England, June 12) 5
41. Torosidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 4.5
42. De Rossi (Italy v Paraguay, June 14) 4.5
43. Vittek (Slovakia v New Zealand, June 15) 4

Groups A, B, C and D are finely poised going into this week's group stage deciders, while group E has come down to one winner-takes-all game between Denmark and Japan. Come back tomorrow to see how group F will sit after draws all round on match day one, as well as what will hopefully be a top contest between Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire!