Japan vs Denmark

1) Japan were really great, and should have had more of a go at Holland, on this evidence. They were very slick, and having three attacking midfielders in the attacking roles in their 4-5-1/4-3-3 meant that they were all attacking and running from deep; the full backs got forward as well. The successful Asian teams (Skorea and Japan) have both shown a willingness to attack with bodies at pace from deep, and display excellent technique. They also defend reasonably well. The success of both teams in the 2002 World Cup has mostly been written off as a home advantage anomaly; both have been excellent at times here; Japan had far too much for Denmark.
2) The oriental sides (are you allowed to say Oriental? I'm not sure) have also scored the only free kicks of the tournament. The pundits criticised Sorenson for the first, saying he should have saved it, but it was a superb strike nonetheless. The second was also marvellously placed.
3) Denmark's approach was curious, since they basically started shelling diagonal long balls into the box after the second goal, and never gave up. When young Eriksen came on, he was barely picked up once, as he came into midfield for the ball, but they merely kept launching long balls.
4) Tomasson's goal from his saved penalty was brilliant. A terrible penalty hit straight at the keeper, a scuffed follow up that only just went into the net ... this actually summed up the general level of Tomasson's finishing, since he has missed about three or four sitters in the last two games combined.
5) Honda was glorious as a lone forward: excellent control, and a neat piece of skill set up the third goal. He looks like a decent player.
6) Japan may test Paraguay and yet reach the quarter final. My desperate hopes are that Spain will either be eliminated or have to play Brazil as results leave them in second place. If Spain fail to reach the bottom quarter of the draw, it might consist of Paraguay, Japan, Portugal and Chile. I'm sure hopeful (blind, deluded) England fans will be hoping that Portugal can made it through to the semi final to meet theLions theLions theLions; I would love to see Japan or Chile there personally. The draw as it stands will give us at least three (four if Spain have to play Brazil) heavyweight clashes; I'm more than happy for these to be confined to two quarters of the draw with the other two quarters full of teams who didn't expect to get this far, and give it a real go.