Japan and Holland both qualified for the final-16 tonight after wins against Denmark and Cameroon, who were both sent home.
Japan were one of the Group outsiders before the start of the competition with many people expecting either Cameroon or Denmark to advance ahead of them. They took all three points from Cameroon in their previous game though and with the help of two great free-kicks they took three points from Denmark tonight.
Honda struck first for Japan with a scorching free-kick rocketing in on seventeen minutes. Endo stepped up when Japan next won a free-kick in a decent area and he also found the net with a curling shot.
Tomasson did pull one back for Denmark with just under ten minutes to play but Japan extended their lead back to 2 goals with a few minutes on the clock when substitute Okazaki scored.
Van Persie took the lead for Holland in the other Group E game when his shot slipped underneath the legs of the ‘keeper. Eto’o put Cameroon level on sixty-five minutes with the hope of leaving the competition with at least a point, but Huntelaar spoiled those hopes with a late winner for Holland who won the group with a 100% record.
The fates of Brazil, Portugal and Span – among others – are all decided tomorrow.
