Japan Eases into Knockout Stage

Japan eased to a surprisingly comfortable 3-1 win over Denmark to earn a Round of 16 matchup against Paraguay. Denmark, with no defence or midfield to speak of (and both Bendtner and Tomasson clearly not quite 100%), were no match for the Samurai Blue. The South Americans will be a tougher test, but are a team against whom Japan should have a good chance. It should be a fascinating game with both teams in with an equal chance of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Japan could easily have scored another couple of goals on top of the three they did manage. Kyoto native, Daisuke Matsui, was unlucky to see an early effort blocked by Danish keeper Sorensen, in one of his few good plays of the game. He certainly did not distinguish himself on either of the free kicks from which Japan scored the first two goals. Both were well taken, but greatly helped by poorly built wall and bad positioning by the keeper.

Manager Takeshi Okada will feel vindicated by the results so far, and we hope that the players can continue to play this well in the next game. In a tournament that has seen many of the big name teams struggle, his semi-final target may yet be achievable.

The results after the group games, see Japan lie joint sixth in the world rankings, alongside Spain.

Rank	Fed	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	CONMEBOL	Argentina	3	3	0	0	6	9
2	UEFA	Netherlands	3	3	0	0	4	9
3	CONMEBOL	Uruguay	3	2	1	0	4	7
4	CONMEBOL	Brazil	3	2	1	0	3	7
5	UEFA	Germany	3	2	0	1	4	6
6	AFC	Japan	3	2	0	1	2	6
6	UEFA	Spain	3	2	0	1	2	6
8	CONMEBOL	Chile	3	2	0	1	1	6
9	UEFA	Portugal	3	1	2	0	7	5
10	CONMEBOL	Paraguay	3	1	2	0	2	5
11	CONCACAF	USA	3	1	2	0	1	5
11	UEFA	England	3	1	2	0	1	5
13	CONCACAF	Mexico	3	1	1	1	1	4
13	CAF	Ivory Coast	3	1	1	1	1	4
15	UEFA	Slovenia	3	1	1	1	0	4
15	CAF	Ghana	3	1	1	1	0	4
15	UEFA	Switzerland	3	1	1	1	0	4
18	AFC	South Korea	3	1	1	1	-1	4
18	UEFA	Slovakia	3	1	1	1	-1	4
20	CAF	South Africa	3	1	1	1	-2	4
21	AFC	Australia	3	1	1	1	-3	4
22	OFC	New Zealand	3	0	3	0	0	3
23	UEFA	Serbia	3	1	0	2	-1	3
24	UEFA	Greece	3	1	0	2	-3	3
24	UEFA	Denmark	3	1	0	2	-3	3
26	UEFA	Italy	3	0	2	1	-1	2
27	CAF	Nigeria	3	0	1	2	-2	1
27	CAF	Algeria	3	0	1	2	-2	1
29	UEFA	France	3	0	1	2	-3	1
29	CONCACAF	Honduras	3	0	1	2	-3	1
31	CAF	Cameroon	3	0	0	3	-3	0
32	AFC	North Korea	3	0	0	3	-11	0