Big Win for the Netherlands

Images by El Universo

Without their star player Arjen Robben, a disappointing Holland managed to gain a glorious victory over Japan with a score of 1 - 0 made by Inter's player Wesley Sneijder. With this result, the "orange" team managed to put a place in the knockout round of 16 of this edition of the World Cup. Robin Van Persie made an assisting long pass after a corner kick, leaving Sneijder to be the man at the right place at the right time in the 53 minute. Japan's goalie pushed the ball after Sneijder kicked it ferociously making it impossible for the Japanese goalie to save. Many of the critics blamed the Jabulani ball for its various movements when it comes to measure the distance of shots but maybe it dribbled around a different direction.

Holland was very low in their game level, showing the lack of talent and the ability to demonstrate a showy game. Without Robben, Holland is lacking in the ability to tactically penetrate the defense of any national team that faces Holland. Robben, injured before the World Cup start, has been recuperating from an injury in his left leg. Japan's scheme alignment showed a very cautious but very attentive to the Deutch team making impossible for the rival players to offensively went through the defense. Many of the Dutch players touched the ball slightly making it useless to control the ball and the game, but the team opened several spaces that the japanese took advantage but Holland managed the result effectively.

Holland attacked regularly before the goal, with shots from Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van Der Vart, but the japanese goalie had his eyes wide open and was very attentive with Holland's stopped ball tactic. After the goal, the game became intense for both sides, because it made Japan go forward and all out provoking several dangerous clear goal shots that could have been a tie. Robin Van Persie missed many situations of scoring a goal but he wasted and never took advantage of the different passes by their teammates.

Since Holland is leading Group E, which Denmark and Japan can reach 6 points, they will be facing Group F runner up integrated by Italy, Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand.