Holland v Japan: match preview

Group E
Holland v Japan
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: Sat June 19, 12.30pm BST
TV: ITV1 12pm, ITV HD 12pm

Japan are almost certainly only one win from reaching the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time outside their own country, but know that Holland will provide easily the most difficult of their group games. “The Dutch themselves think their strength lies in attack so what we need to do is try to wind them up and frustrate them," said midfielder Yuki Abe.

Such spoiling tactics worked against Cameroon and, while Japan are certainly well-drilled, they lack individual talent and the technical skill of the Dutch should prove decisive.
Key clash
Robin van Persie v Tulio Tanaka: After missing most of last season with his ankle injury, Robin van Persie still needs further games to return to full match fitness. There were glimpses of his best in the 2-0 win against Denmark and, given his role as the spearhead for the Dutch attack, Tulio Tanaka faces a major test to limit Van Persie’s pivotal influence in bringing the best from Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder.
Touchline duel
Bert van Marwijk v Takesho Okada: Two of the lower profile managers at this World Cup have already made a strong impression on this competition. Van Marwijk’s managerial career reached its peak when he won the Uefa Cup and Dutch league with Feyenoord while Okada already has the past experience of leading Japan in the 1998 World Cup where his team were eliminated in the first round after losing all three group games to Jamaica, Argentina and Croatia.
Talking tactics
As they showed during the warm-up game against England, Japan’s strength lies in their collective industry and organisation. They will set themselves up to stifle Holland’s fluid midfield and hope that they can inflict some occasional damage on the counter-attack.
What they are saying
Bert van Marwijk: "We know we can best every country and when you know that you go to a World Cup to win it, not to try just to win one or two games. It will not be easy because the big countries have more players. We have 16 million people, whereas in Germany they have 80 million.
Takesho Okada: "The statistics show we outrun our opponents in almost every game. We won’t win if we only play to our individual strengths, but this team can make one plus one equal three. Holland are a bit too good. It would be amazing if we beat them.
Teams (probable)
Holland (4-5-1): Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Mathijsen, Heitinga, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Van Bommel, Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart; Van Persie.
Subs: De Zeeuw, Elia, Afellay, Vorm, Boschker, Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Braafheid, Schaars, Robben, Babel, Huntelaar.
Japan( 4-4-1-1): Eiji Kawashima; Komano, Tanaka, Nakazawa, Nagatomo; Abe; Matsui, Endo, Hasebe, Okubo; Honda.
Subs: Narazaki, Kawaguchi, Uchida, Daiki Iwamasa, Konno, Nakamura, Nakamura, Inamoto, Okazaki, Tamada, Kisho Yano, Morimoto.
Referee: Hector Baldassi (Argentina).
Previous meetings
Played 1: Holland 1, Draws 0, Japan 0
2009 (Enschede, friendly): Holland 3 Japan 0
Fact: Holland, 2-0 winners over Denmark, are bidding to win their first two games for only the second time.
Prediction: Japan may have beaten Cameroon, but Holland are strong and should win again.