SB Nation World Cup World Cup 2010 -- Group E
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Cameroon is out. The Netherlands are all but assured of first place in Group E. While the match is unlikely to have an effect on the tournament, Thursday's Cameroon-Netherlands game will have us a glimpse at a number of new talents.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar reaped the benefits of Arjen Robben’s return, converting a rebound of the Dutch winger’s shot, putting the Netherlands up 2-1.
Robben turned on a ball he had tracked down behind the Cameroon defense and unleashed a left-footed shot against Souleymane Hamidou’s post. The ball bounced off the woodwork to Huntelaar, who put the ball home for Holland’s second goal.
The Netherlands’ 2-1 win would send them through Group E in first place with nine points, only the second team (Argentina) to finish group play perfect.
Samuel Eto’o has converted a penalty kick, beating Maarten Stekelenberg in the 65th minute, to pull Cameroon even with the Netherlands, 1-1.
Cameroon was awarded the penalty after Geremi’s direct kick on goal hit Rafeal van der Vaart’s elevated hand while the Dutch attacker was part of a wall planted in the penalty area.
Eto’o’s kick went into the left side of goal, hit hard enough to evade Stekelenberg, who had guessed the correct side.
The Netherlands clinch Group E’s first place with any points from Cameroon.
Robin van Persie’s 37th minute goal highlights a surprisingly even first half, with the Nehterlands going into the locker rooms with a 1-0 lead.
Van Persie slid a right footed shot under Souleymanou Hamidou in the 37th minute, finishing a Rafael van der Vaart pass to give Holland their only first half goal of the tournament.
Van Persie, on a yellow card, was one of the surprise starters for the Dutch, who have Group E all-but wrapped-up but still elected to start a full team against eliminated Cameroon. Cameroon, likewise, has started almost all of its first-choice players.
The Netherlands needs only a point from the match to clinch first place in Group E.
Possession has been even (51/49, Cameroon) while the Dutch have out-shot the Lions, 3-1.
It took 37 minutes, but the Netherlands finally broke through Cameroon, the first time they’ve scored in the first half in this year’s World Cup.
Rafael van der Vaart ball through the left side of Cameroon’s defense put Robin van Persie in on Souleymanou Hamidou, the Arsenal striker sliding a right-footed shot under the Cameroon `keeper, giving Holland a 1-0 lead.
With a draw, the Netherlands clinch first place in Group E.
There is no phrase in U.S. sporting culture analogous to "dead rubber" - probably a good thing. With the long baseball, basketball and hockey seasons, the soccer term used to describe a inconsequential match would be used more often than a Stuart Scott verbal lobotomizer.
One of the best phrases in soccer culture, dead rubber gives you an indication of the importance of today's Netherlands-Cameroon match. Cameroon is eliminated while the Netherlands can only give up first place in Group E if they lose and see Japan or Denmark turn around a goal difference advantage that stands at +3 entering today's match.
Expect a number of chances for both teams. The Netherlands see Nigel de Jong, Gregory van der Wiel and Robin van Persie carrying yellow cards. They're unlikely to play. For Cameroon, expect some younger players to see time to not only get players experience but also give the Lions, carrying zero points into today's match, a changed look.
Netherlands, Going Forward: This is the reason why the Dutch are loved, and even if Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart join Robin van Persie on the bench, the Oranje will still entertain. Players like Klass Jan-Huntelaar, Eljero Elia and Ibrahim Afellay play with the same used of space and movement that we've come the love from Holland. Putting them into the lineup will do nothing to change that.
And their presence in the lineup will take little quality from the Dutch. Of course, these players aren't as good as the near-all-world talents they're replacing, but most teams in this tournament would love to have the likes of Elia and Afellay - Cameroon included.
More worrisome for the Lions, these players use the wide areas as well as those they're replacing, a particular problem for a Cameroon side that desperately lacks wide players in the midfield.
Cameroon, Going Forward: The Lions have not been able to figure it out. A defensive miscue from the Danes in the second match gave them a goal. Beyond that, the Lions haven't had much in the way of creativity or legitimate opportunities.
Against the Netherlands, that's unlikely to chance. The Dutch are capable of holding the ball for 70 percent of this match, and unless Cameroon can find a midfield player who can take advantage of the few runs of possession the Lions will have, the Netherlands may as well have the ball 100 percent of the match. Cameroon has no players in the middle of the pitch who can provide for the likes of Samuel Eto'o - thus, their current state in Group E.
How The Match Turns: When the Dutch go up a couple of goals, the play will seem perfunctory, and Cameroon may have a chance for goals. While it should not be competitive, the match should be entertaining - an open affair that will display the skill of some Dutch players who have yet to see meaningful time in this tournament.
World Cup 2010, Netherlands Vs. Cameroon: Dutch Perfect Into Knockout Stage
The Netherlands made it three wins in three knockout stage matches, defeating Cameroon 2-1 on a late Klass-Jan Huntelaar goal. The Dutch win Group E, finishing on nine points, and will meet Slovakia in the next round.
The Netherlands opened scoring in the first half with a Robin van Persie goal, finished from eight yards out under an onrushing Souleymane Hamidou. Cameroon equalized in the second half when Samuel Eto’o converted a penalty kick awarded after a Rafael van der Vaart hand ball. Holland won the match on Huntelaar’s goal, putting home the rebound of a Arjen Robben shot.
The Netherlands become the second team to finish group play with a perfect record, joining Group B-winner Argentina. Cameroon is the first team to complete group play without having earned a point.
The Dutch move on to the knockout stage, where they will play Group F runners-up Slovakia.
Jun 24 4:31p by Richard Farley - 0 comments