CAMEROON 1-2 NETHERLANDS, Cape Town, 24/06/10
Eto’o 65 (pen); Van Persie 36, Huntelaar 83

The Netherlands survived a major scare from Cameroon to finish top of Group E with full points, defend the UFWC title, and set up a Last 16 clash with Slovakia.

The first half was one of few talking points, where both sides seemed happy to let the others come at them and wait until the attack broke down. It was Robin Van Persie who had the first genuine chance in the 19th minute, but his strike was poorly hit as it was directed straight at goalkeeper Souleymanou Hamidou.

Cameroon’s Geremi seemed determined to set up a goal, as he expertly sent in several good crosses from the wing, but the Dutch defence were equal to each one. But it was the Netherlands who seemed most likely to score first, with Dirk Kuyt firing just wide in the 32nd minute. Kuyt did, however, help set up the first goal. A pass to Van Persie followed by a one-two with Rafael Van Der Vaart left Van Persie one-on-one with Hamidou, as he slotted the ball through his legs to send the Netherlands 1-0 up into the break, despite a goalmouth scramble at the other end of the pitch where Cameroon couldn’t get the ball going the right direction.

The opening stages of the second half had more in common with an exhibition match than a World Cup match, as both sides made changes to rest players and give others a game. But Samuel Eto’o didn’t seem to get the message, as he made it his mission to make sure his team left the World Cup with something, as he burst through the defence only to scuff his shot, and almost pouncing on a lazy backpass. And in the 64th minute he had a chance to get his goal. When Van Der Vaart handled the ball in the box from a free kick the referee awarded a penalty, which Eto’o stroked past Maartan Stekelenburg.

The Netherlands truly were up against the ropes at this stage, but managed to survive without any more damage, and Cameroon’s chance of overturning the result began to fade away.

The result was sealed in the 83rd minute, thanks in part to a returning Arjen Robben. After receiving the through-ball, he turned inside and curled a shot around the goalkeeper but it only hit the post. However Klass-Jan Huntelaar was on-hand to slot the ball into an empty net and confirm another Dutch win.

They will now face Group F runners-up Slovakia in the next round of the World Cup, which will be previewed shortly.

Match Reports Cameroon, Netherlands

NETHERLANDS 1-0 JAPAN, Durban, 19/06/10
Sneijder 53

A second-half goal from Wesley Sneijder was enough for the Netherlands to earn three more group points, all but guarantee passage to the next round, and bring a rare title unification at the end of the tournament to the brink of being reality.

The first half was one of few talking points, as the Netherlands held the majority of the possession but struggled to break down a resilient Japanese defence. The most signifigant event of the half was an injury to Japan’s Yuichi Komano, as Van Persie’s foot accidentally hit him in the head, but luckily he only needed a brief spell of treatment and he was able to continue.

Despite a less-than-entertaining first half, things took a turn for the better in the second half. The Netherlands threatened the defence with attacks early in the half, and Sneijder was the one to benefit from it. Van Persie laid the ball off to him just outside the box as he took a blistering shot, and even though the goalkeeper got a hand to it he was unable to keep the ball out of the net.

This goal seemed to spark a Japanese revival as Yoshito Okubo led the attack, but couldn’t convert any of their chances. Likewise, the Netherlands continued to try to get a second goal, but were constantly snuffed out, largely thanks to Marcus Tulio Tanaka.

However after Sneijder was substituted for Afellay things changed and the Netherlands could have won 3-0, as the new player was on the end of two through balls and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Kawashima twice, but the man between the sticks was equal to it on both occasions.

The win means that the Netherlands are just one match away from the next round, and if they avoid defeat in their last match they will bring the title into the Last 16.

The Netherlands will now face Cameroon in their final Group E match on June 24th, which will be previewed for you later.

Match Reports

NETHERLANDS 2-0 DENMARK, Johannesburg, 14/06/10
Agger (OG) 46, Kuyt 85

Two second-half goals, one of them an own goal, were enough for the Netherlands to retain the UFWC title and start their World Cup campaign with a victory.

The first half was one of very few good chances, with both teams mostly restricted to long-range efforts as they failed to break through the defence in the final third of the pitch. However it was Denmark who had the two best chances of the half.

In the 27th minute a cross from Rommedahl found the head of Bendtner, who headed the ball just wide. Then in the 37th minute Kahlenberg broke into the box from the left and aimed a decent shot for the top corner but Dutch goalkeeper Stekelenburg was equal to it as he palmed it out of play.

Luckily for Dutch fans the second half started off much better, with a goal only 36 seconds after the restart. Robin Van Persie broke forward straight away and crossed the ball into the box. The ball found the head of Dane defender Simon Poulsen, who accidentally headed the ball backwards, and deflected off Agger into the net. The goal seemed to knock Denmark off their feet, as they failed to make any decent chances for the rest of the match.

Van Persie could have got a goal himself six minutes later, but his feet failed him as the ball went harmlessly wide. The game went into another period of relative calm after this, before the introduction of Eljero Elia for the Netherlands, as he burst forward splitting the defence open on several occasions, making it seem inevitable that the Dutch would score again.

And indeed they would, with Elia unlucky to not be the scorer. A through-ball from Sneijder set Elia one-on-one with Dane ‘keeper Sorensen. He succeeded in hitting the ball past the keeper but failed to score as his shot hit the post. But it all worked out as Kuyt had followed through after the shot, as he slotted the ball into an empty net.

It wasn’t all bad news for Denmark as Poulsen gained a measure of redemption by clearing the ball off the line after Afellay headed the ball past Sorensen.

This victory makes this the second-best reign in UFWC history with 16 defences so far. The Netherlands’ next title match will be on June 19th against Japan, which we will preview for you later.

Match Reports Denmark, Netherlands

NETHERLANDS 6-1 HUNGARY, Amsterdam, 05/06/10
Van Persie 22, Sneijder 56, Robben 64, 78, Van Bommel 71, Elia 74; Dzsudzsak 6

The Netherlands came from behind to emphatically beat Hungary, bringing the UFWC title to the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Despite a bright start for the home team it was Hungary who took the lead in the 6th minute, as a Torghelle pass split the defence open as it found Dzsudzsak on the edge of the box, and he curled into the top corner, to possibly set up an upset.

Both teams had decent chances in the first half, but it was the Netherlands who struck next as Kuyt passed the ball into Van Persie who slotted it into the net to bring the match to 1-1, which was the score at half-time, a score that both teams thoroughly deserved.

However the Netherlands started the second half with real intent, as they ran riot over the opposition. It started with a cross from Van Bronckhorst which found Wesley Sneijder as he comfortably hit the back of the net. Things got worse for Hungary in the 64th minute, as a cross from the right fizzed through the 6-yard box to find Arjen Robben at the far post who hit the ball past the flailing Marton Fulop.

By this stage Hungary were utterly flattened and the Netherlands were in the driving seat, so there was only one outcome: more goals. In the 71st minute a short corner was taken and passed to Van Bommel standing on the edge of the box, who aimed it into the bottom corner, with a hint of a deflection taking it away from the goalkeeper.

Then only three minutes later Eljero Elia scored the goal of the match. Receiving the ball on the wing, he sprinted past one defender, ran around another two on the edge of the box, and struck the ball through the legs of a fourth as the goalkeeper found it impossible to keep out.

Robben scored again four minutes later as a corner found him at the back of the box as he ‘simply’ lifted the ball over the crowd of players and into the top corner, away from Fulop.

Unfortunately a shadow was cast over the match after 85 minutes, as Robben attempted a complicated pass and fell awkwardly. He limped off the pitch and down the tunnel for treatment, as the Netherlands finished the match with 10 men having used all their substitutes.

Hopefully Robben will be okay to play at the World Cup in South Africa, as the Netherlands take the UFWC trophy with them into Group E, where they will come up against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

The Netherlands’ first World Cup match, and next UFWC title match, will be against Denmark on June 14th, which we will preview for you soon.

Match Reports Hungary, Netherlands