Holland vs Japan

Another shitty game. We had a shitload of folks round at our gaff on Saturday, with disgusting cheap lager for each match, and badly barbecued food in the evening. Several cans of Heineken failed to enliven this dull affair: Sneijder looked to have scored a cracker until you realised it was more terrible goalkeeping, Holland should have scored a couple of late goals, Japan came close to snatching a point. Japan looked orderly, but I hope Denmark overcome them in the decider; they had more about them.

Holland don't look like a quarter final team at this stage, and might yet have a tricky game in the second round. They have a lot of attacking talent which isn't really firing yet. I was very disappointed by Van de Vaart and Van Persie, and while they have Robben to come back in, that would be a fairly fragile basket to put your eggs into.