20' PAR V. Caceres (YC)
41' PAR Santa Cruz (YC)
56' NZL Nelsen (YC)
A game New Zealand wanted to win, but a draw should be enough for Kiwi Soccer, and it showed, because they never threw men forward.
PAR Verdict: Some good chances, but they never found the breakthrough. The Group F winner will advance to play Japan.
NZL Verdict: Another decent performance, the All Whites should be very pleased witht heir result. Hopefully in the future they can improve on their 3 points, as they become the 4th team to be sent home early without losing a game.
Man of the Match: Oscar Cardozo (PAR)
Italy 2-3 Slovakia
16' Strba (YC)
25' Vittek (0-1)
31' Cannavaro (YC)
40' Vittek (YC)
50' Pekarik (YC)
67' Chiellini (YC)
73' Vittek (0-2)
76' Pepe (YC)
81' Di Natale (1-2)
82' Mucha (YC)
83' Quagliarella YC)
89' Kopunek (1-3)
90+2' Quagliarella (2-3)
Another one of the big shocks of the tournament, Italy was once again the victim of their own unisprired play.
ITA Verdict: Gli Azzuri played without passion and creativity jut like their first two game, just finally one team was able to punish them enough for it. However, Quagliarella may have scored the best goal of the tournament on a gorgeous chip from 25 yards out into the corner.
SVK Verdict: Good play by Robert Vittek to be in the right place at the right time and have the proper finishing touch carried Slovakia to victory, but they team played like they wanted to win, and they did. Slovakia advances to the round of 16 to play Netherlands.
Man of the Match: Fabian Quagliarella (ITA)
Group F Final Standings
Paraguay 5 (2)
Slovakia 4 (-1)
New Zealand 3 (0)
Italy 2 (-1)
Netherlands 2-1 Cameroon
17' NED Kuyt (YC)
25' CAM N'Koulou (YC)
36' NED Van Persie (1-0)
64' NED Van der Vaart (YC)
65' CAM Eto'o (1-1) (pen)
70' NED Van Bronckhorst (YC)
81' CAM M'Bia (YC)
83' NED Huntelaar (2-1)
Another game for Cameroon where they looked sluggish and uninspired and another match for Netherlands where it just feels like they're saving an extra gear for the later rounds.
NED Verdict: Doing just enough to win; that;s been the story for Oranje at the 2010 World Cup, who are usually a much more prolific side. Oranje won Group E and will face Slovakia.
CAM Verdict: Another disappointing show from the African side. The Indomitable Lions did not show off their famed speed and power, and looked like they were done with their miserable World Cup and they will go home with no points.
Man of the Match: Wesley Sneijder (NED)
Denmark 1-3 Japan
12' JPN Endo (YC)
17' JPN Honda (0-1)
26' JPN Nagatomo (YC)
29' DEN Kroldrup (YC)
30' JPN Endo (0-2)
48' DEN Poulsen (YC)
66' DEN Bendtner (YC)
80' DEN Tomasson (pen miss)
81' DEN Tomasson (1-2)
87' JPN Okazaki (1-3)
A fairly boring game despite all of the scoring. Neither Denmark or Japan are particularly exciting to watch since they are both fundamentally sound teams without a lot of dynamism.
DEN Verdict: Bendtner underperformed once again, and sloppy play allowed the Japanese to take advantage of the Danes. They will be going home early this year.
JPN Verdict: A positive showing from the Blue Samurai, showing some free kick expertise off of some sloppy Danish play. Not the best creative team, if the Japanese can continue this free kick expertise they may be able to make a shock run. Japan will play Group F winners Paraguay in the Round of 16.
Man of the Match: Honda Keisuke (JPN)
Group E Final Standings:
Netherlands 9 (4)
Japan 6 (2)
Denmark 3 (-3)
Cameroon 0 (-3)
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