Sputtering Orange Battleship Takes on Chugging Blue Fishing Boat

 VERSUS

1330h – DURBAN MOSES MAHIBA STADIUM

OVERVIEW:

The Second Half Dutch Performance against Denmark was a vast improvement over their first, but substantially more is needed for this talented generation of Dutch players to achieve the momentum and consistency needed to win the elusive trophy that previous generations despite often being the best failed to reach. The attacking machine of the Dutch battleship needs to achieve full speed today, or the watching world will begin to harvest the resulting question marks.

Japan, buoyed and very much afloat on the Cape of Good Hope after their navigated surprise win against Cameroon will be in for a certain challenge, and must deploy all their nets to catch the Dutch team before fishing a goal of their own.

Expect entertaining football today.

REFEREE: HECTOR BALDASSI (Argentina) – One of the most present and match controlling referees in the world, he should progress through the stages of this World Cup admirably.

Country:Argentina  

Date of Birth: 05.01.1966

Height: 179 cm

Occupation: Businessman

Mother tongue: Spanish

Other languages: English

International since: 2000

First international: Venezuela-Chile (25.07.2000)

Hobbies: Golf

Fondest memory: Uruguay-Brazil 2005, Brazil-Uruguay 2008

WHO’S MISSING?

The Dutch injury problems continue, with Dirk Marcelos and Andre Oijer’s absence weakening the defensive options, Ibrahim Affelay is a further doubt.

Catania’s dynamic baldie Takayuki Morimoto could bring a lot to the Japanese squad but his start is in question due to an ailing thigh muscle.

ANALYSIS:

STYLE OF PLAY: The Dutch flood the opponents half and retain possession. Against Japan this should not be impossible given the physical limitations of the Japanese team. That is why Cameroon though, and Nigeria versus South Korea. Both were wrong, the East Asian teams are clearly improving the fitness of their players and the gap in physical strength is shrinking. Nevertheless, the Dutch defensive midfielder is key in imposing the attacking football by giving the possession and control of tempo that drive the Dutch warship. The Dutch then attack through the central channels and down the wings with pace and power, applying a lot of quick passes and often changing the tempo. England are you taking notes?

Japan has struggled in form over the past two years, and their football for this tournament has been deployed as just a notch more defensive. They have however been heavily strengthened with the Keisuke Honda, a superbly talented players, who set the Dutch Eredivisie on fire before joining Moscow Millionaires CSKA last January. He scored and played well against Cameroon, but given the chance on a counter attack this player can create a lot of efficient damage to the opposition. He forms part of the Japanese alternating attacking midfield, where the wingers and attacking midfield keep changing position while going forward, making diagonal runs to render defending more difficult and keeping maximum twenty yards proximity to each other to allow them to retain the ball. It is the Central Defence of Japan that is significantly improved, their two centre backs jumped with and marked out the Cameroonian attack last game, and seem ready to try and hold the class attack of the Dutch team.

Dutch Strengths and Weaknesses: The Dutch are psychologically frail due to the immense pressure of winning something they bear, combined with the amount of superstars their constellation is bulging with which creates a sometimes egoistic atmosphere running contrary to their teambuilding necessities.

This team problem has sank to the depths of England or France though, and the torpedo like effect of the Dutch attacking speed is one of the strongest in the World. They are exposed in the defence though, as the lack of replacement can mean too many players committing forward and the possibility of counter attack. This is why Bert van Marwijk played Nigel de Jong last game instead of the more creative Demy de Zeuw due to the need for  a fast defensive midfielder to delay counter attacks.

Japan Strengths and Weaknesses: Tempo and Initiative taking, as well as keeping possession are still  a problem for the Japanese team although they are much improved in that department. In all the lines, except maybe in the goalkeeping line the Japanese still possess less class.

What they do have is more team play and good atmosphere within the squad.

Key Men:

Dirk Kuyt is a workhorse in offense like few players, and even if the Orange ship doesn’t fully leave port today, it’s his individual actions that could make a difference in offence.

Nakazawa had an excellent defensive game against Cameroon, and looked capable of making a career in Europe even with his performance. Can he maintain it here, one or two class levels higher?

Expected Result:

The  Dutch dismantle the Japanese at least 3-0.

A Slight Surprise:

The unoiled Orange Machine chuffs a bit and the Japanese score for the Dutch to win 2-1.

A Shock:

Japan gets points out of this game and qualify top of their group... yeah gads!