Holland 1:0 Japan: match report

Holland might have a history of World Cup underachievement to surpass that of even England or Spain but, of the European contenders this year, they have certainly begun most plausibly.

Two games, two wins and no goals conceded should add up to a most serene path into the last 16 and, although Group E is hardly the most demanding, they can now look over their shoulders at the various struggles of France,



England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Germany with considerable satisfaction.

This was not the rampant flowing football of Diego Maradona’s Argentina – the only other tournament favourite to have begun with two wins – but rather a thoroughly coherent and patient performance that suggests there is plenty more to come.

Wesley Sneijder scored the winning goal and, with Arjen Robben now back in full training and Robin van Persie becoming sharper with each game following his long ankle injury, there is enough creativity within this Dutch squad to trouble any opponent.

Equally important, with Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel diligently and unselfishly shielding the defence, the Dutch 4-2-3-1 system has a solidity and streetwise quality that provides an excellent balance. The more attacking players have a platform to express themselves but it is also no happy accident that Holland have begun this tournament with consecutive clean sheets.

Just as he did at the beginning of last season for Arsenal, Van Persie plays as the focal point for the Dutch attack, with Sneijder given the freedom just behind to roam into dangerous positions.

Japan duly packed their midfield in a very similar fashion to the way Switzerland negated much of Spain’s possession.

Despite having almost 70 per cent of possession, a Sneijder free-kick that sailed harmlessly over and an overhead kick from Dirk Kuyt that was blocked were the closest Holland came throughout the first 45 minutes to piercing Japan’s resistance.

The Japanese threat might have been confined simply to counter-attacks and set pieces, but still resulted in a greater first-half goal threat.

Yuto Nagatomo managing to find space behind the Dutch defence before shooting over, while Keisuke Honda did at least test Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with an effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Yasuhito Endo’s swirling free-kicks also prompted a flurry of half chances with Yuki Abe, Marcus Tanaka and Honda all guiding headers wide.

As the collective Dutch frustration grew so too did the call for Arjen Robben. The former Chelsea winger might only have trained once since the team’s arrival in South Africa but, while Kuyt and Rafael van der Vaart do provide a hard-working and industrious presence on the flanks, they are rather one-paced.

Manager Bert van Marwijk resisted the temptation to tinker and his faith was rewarded in the 53rd minute. Moments before the goal, Van Bommel had brilliantly dissected the Japanese defence with a sweeping cross-field ball that Van Persie failed to control.

But, when the ball again broke to him on the edge of the penalty area, the Arsenal forward delicately cushioned his pass to Sneijder who smashed a powerful shot towards goal. Kawashima only saw the ball at the last moment and could only parry it with his left hand into the opposite corner.

The goal forced Japan to take more risks and, to their credit, they had the Dutch defence rocking for several periods of the second-half. However, it also meant more further gaps further back and Holland substitute Ibrahim Afellay missed two excellent chances to put the game beyond the Japanese after using his pace to force one-on-ones with Kawashima.

On the first occasion, he just over-ran possession while Van Persie waited patiently on the edge of the six-yard box and he then again allowed Kawashima to smoother his shot after an excellent pass from Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

Japan had two chances in injury-time to punish Afellay’s profligacy and claim a draw, but Shinji Okazaki shot wastefully over and then a penalty appeal was correctly waved away as De Jong tangled with Yuto Nagatumo.