The Netherlands Japan Cameroon Denmark
* = Seeded Team
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
With many cultural and trading links to South Africa, the Netherlands may relish exporting "Total Football" to the Cape. Twice runners-up at the World Cup, a team that sailed easily through European qualification will fancy its chances of escaping a relatively lightweight group. Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart provide the craft with captain Mark van Bommel supplying the steel. Doubts remain about the defence and in goal if Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar decides to stay in retirement. For the Netherlands to really make an impact Milan striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar needs to rediscover his best form.
 |
 |
The Netherlands Kit 1 |
The Netherlands Kit 2 |
The Netherlands v Denmark 14 June; Johannesburg
The Netherlands v Japan 19 June; Durban
The Netherlands v Cameroon 24 June; Cape Town
Bert van Marwijk
1934, 1938 First Round; 1990, 2006 Second Round, 1994 Quarter-finals; 1998 Semi-finals; 1974, 1978 Runners-up
Rafael van der Vaart
The Oranje will make it out of the group and go out in the second round as they did four years ago.
World Cup Betting
Topped European qualifying group 9.
Patrick Kluivert is the Netherlands's highest goalscorer with 40.
Buy World Cup Tickets
Japan's present coach Takeshi Okada lead Japan to three defeats at World Cup 1998 but now claims a best-four finish is the target for the much improved Blue Samurai. "I don't think it was a bad draw. I have no intention of changing our goal, which is to get to the last four," said the optimistic Okada. Previous coach Ivica Osim believes a more realistic target would be escaping the group. Japan lost 3-0 in a friendly to the Netherlands earlier in 2009 and will be hoping to turn the tables in Durban. Speedy and skilled, Japan lacks a killer instinct and height at the back.
 |
 |
Japan |
Japan |
Japan v Cameroon 14 June; Bloemfontein
Japan v The Netherlands 19 June; Durban
Japan v Denmark 24 June; Rustenburg
1998, 2006 First Round. 2002 Second Round
Shunsuke Nakamura, Yasuhito Endo, Takayuki Morimoto
Last four? No, third or fourth in the group.
World Cup Betting
Second place in Asian qualifying group 1.
Defender Masami Ihara has the most caps (123) for Japan.
Buy World Cup Tickets
Ex-Rangers and PSG coach Paul Le Guen turned around the Indomitable Lions' qualifying campaign and a 2-0 win on the road in Morocco secured a record six appearance for an African team at the World Cup. Names familiar to European fans will be Inter's Samuel Eto'o, Sebastien Bassong of Tottenham and Arsenal's Alexandre Song.
 |
 |
Cameroon |
Cameroon |
Cameroon v Japan 14 June; Bloemfontein
Cameroon v Denmark 19 June; Pretoria
Cameroon v The Netherlands 22 June; Cape Town
Paul Le Guen
1982, 1994, 1998, 2002 First Round; 1990 Quarter finals
Second round.
World Cup Betting
Won group A in the African qualifying zone.
Rigobert Song is still going strong with over 130 caps.
Buy World Cup Tickets
After winning Group 1 in some style, Denmark are quietly confident of pulling off a few surprises in the Rainbow Nation. Coach Morten Olsen has quietly built a well-organized and fluent team that overcame both Portugal and Sweden in their qualifying group. Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner, former Newcastle forward Jon Dahl Tomasson and Juventus hardman Christian Poulsen are the influential players in a team without stars. Overall, the squad lacks depth in case of injury.
 |
 |
Denmark |
Denmark |
Denmark v The Netherlands 14 June; Johannesburg
Denmark v Cameroon 19 June; Pretoria
Denmark v Japan 24 June; Rustenburg
Morten Olsen
1986, 2002 Second Round; 1998 Quarterfinals
Nicklas Bendter
Early flight home for Olli and the boys.
World Cup Betting
First in European qualifying group 1 ahead of Portugal and Sweden.
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel won 129 caps for the Danes.
Buy World Cup Tickets