Played
June 24, 2010 2:30 PM EDT
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Referee: Jerome Damon (RSA)
June 24, 2010 2:30 PM EDT
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
Referee: Jerome Damon (RSA)
90′ +5
Final: Denmark 1 -- 3 Japan. That'll be all from me today. I'll be back in the morning for the match between North Korea and Ivory Coast.
90′ +4
Honda fires just over with the last kick of the ball. Japan is off to the second round to face Paraguay! Denmark go home early!
90′ +4
Final seconds of the match.....
90′ +2
Denmark claiming for a penalty, but the ref is having none of it, as he points to the corner for Denmark.
90′
Just stoppage time remaining until Japan are confirmed as a participant in the second round of this World Cup.
88′
Substitution 
Y. Ōkubo 
Yasuyuki Konno
Y. Ōkubo Yasuyuki Konno
88′
Honda does all the work, but once he turns the Danish defense, he simply passes the ball to a wide open Okazaki, who easily rolls the ball into the empty net.
87′
Goal Shinji Okazaki
87′
A third goal for Japan! Game over!
86′
The Danes just don't look capable at this point. Check that. They haven't really looked capable all game. The only reason why they have a goal at this point is because of a soft penalty call.
85′
Denmark try to move the ball quickly up the field from a corner, but they needlessly turn the ball over out of bounds.
84′
Japan can burn some of the clock here, as Honda earns a free kick.
83′
Seven minutes left for Denmark to find two more goals.
81′
Missed Penalty Jon Dahl Tomasson
81′
Tomasson's penalty was too easy for Kawashima to save, and then Tomasson nearly put the rebound wide.
81′
Goal Jon Dahl Tomasson
81′
Tomasson had his penalty saved! But the rebound is right back to him, and he places it into the goal.
80′
Penalty! Agger earns Denmark a penalty. Looked rather soft, but is this a chance for Denmark to get back into the game?
79′
What a hit by Larsen. But the wonderfully hit shot slams off the bar.
77′
Honda wins a free kick at midfield. Think he fancies a chance on goal?
76′
Another long ball into the box, and another header not won by the Danish.
75′
Almost counting down the minutes until Japan's victory at this point.
74′
Substitution 
Daisuke Matsui 
Shinji Okazaki
Daisuke Matsui Shinji Okazaki
73′
Nagatomo has a rare shot for Japan in this half, but it is straight at Sorensen.
72′
Japan is frustrating the Danish by just grinding this game down. Denmark haven't really threatened the goal all night.
70′
Oh my. Japan gifts Denmark a chance, but Tomasson absolutely fluffs his lines as a pass in rolled into him in the box. Poor, poor from Tomasson.
68′
A half chance for Eriksen on a half volley, but the ball was rising all the way over the bar.
68′
The long ball tactic from Denmark won't be working anytime soon.
66′
Yellow Card Nicklas Bendtner
66′
Sorensen makes a save on a shot straight at him, and then Denmark quickly pour forward.
65′
25 minutes left. But the Japanese just don't look like conceding at this point.
63′
Last roll of the dice for Denmark. Eriksen is on, but can he make the difference for the Danes?
63′
Substitution Thomas Kahlenberg Christian Eriksen
Thomas Kahlenberg Christian Eriksen
60′
Agger does well to get his shot on target, but it is a comfortable save for Kawashima.
60′
Denmark have upped the pressure in the past two minutes or so, as Bendtner wins a free kick for Denmark.
59′
Poulsen gets a decent strike on target, but it is straight at the keeper.
57′
Japan are starting to carve chances out here. Not good for Denmark.
56′
Substitution Per Billeskov Kroldrup Soren Larsen
Per Billeskov Kroldrup Soren Larsen
56′
Free kick for Japan is whipped in by Endo, but Denmark head it out.
55′
35 minutes left for Denmark to score thrice.
52′
A flick header from Bendtner falls to Tomasson in the box, but it is poked wide for a corner.
51′
Deary me. A great cross come in from the left, but three different Danish players fail to connect with the ball.
51′
Honda nearly gets onto a long ball that was pumped forward, but a grateful Sorensen collects it at the edge of the box.
50′
Bendtner takes the free kick, but smashes it straight into the wall. Very disappointing.
49′
A decent looking opportunity here from a set piece for Denmark.
48′
Wow! Endo hits a free kick from about 50 yards out, and Sorensen struggles with the flight of it, and it slips through Sorensen's hands before bouncing off the post. What a let off for Sorensen.
48′
Yellow Card Christian Poulsen
46′
Japan with an early chance here to start the second half, but they just cant' connect on the cross.
46′
Denmark get us back under way here to start the second half.
43′
Denmark were unable to do anything with that corner. Unsurprisingly.
Because as it looks now, the Danes are as good as gone in this competition.
For the Danes, they will have to come out in the second half desperate. They lacked much prowess going forward, but somehow will need to find three goals. Will Olsen make his last two changes at half in hopes of shaking things up?
What to make of all this? Well, Japan are 45 minutes from making it the second round. All they need to do is not concede 3 goals. With the way the Danes are playing, that task seems easy enough.
45′ +2
And the half ends, with Japan up 2-0.
45′ +1
This nightmarish first half is nearly over for the Danes.
45′
But Denmark clear the corner.
44′
Komano bursts into the box, and fires from a tight angle, but Sorensen pushes the ball over for a corner.
44′
Denmark work a free kick from a long way out, and Poulsen gets his shot on target, but it is an easy save.
43′
Denmark continue to be a disappointment in the final third.
41′
Honda appears to try to play this one in for a teammate, but Poulsen heads it back out.
41′
Uh-oh. Another free kick for Japan, nearly identical to where Honda scored the first one from.
40′
Disappointing cross from S.B. Poulsen.
38′
The Danes just seem to be lacking any ideas. Japan is solid in defense right now, but the Danes just aren't causing any sort of trouble at the moment.
37′
Denmark have been unable to muster any sort of response since conceding the second goal. Not a good sign for the Danes.
34′
Hard to tell if Denmark was forced into that change, or just looking to shake things up.
34′
Substitution Martin Jorgensen Jakob Poulsen
Martin Jorgensen Jakob Poulsen
33′
Denmark now really have it all to do. It will now take a minimum of three goals to see them through to the second round. A goal before the half would be huge for morale.
30′
Well, well. Everyone thought that Honda was going to take it, but Endo steps up, and bends the shot around the wall. There was nothing Sorensen could do there. That shot from Endo was inch perfect!
30′
Goal Yasuhito Endō
30′
Its ENDO! AND ITS ANOTHER GOAL!
29′
Kroldrup concedes a free kick just outside of the box. It's in a central position on the field, will Honda have another crack at goal?
29′
Yellow Card Per Billeskov Kroldrup
26′
Yellow Card Yuto Nagatomo
24′
Denmark have done a decent job of responding since going down a goal, but they have not been able to create any sort of real chance.
22′
Tomasson nearly gets on the end of a long ball in the box from Poulsen, but Kawashima puts the ball behind for a corner. Corner comes to nothing for Denmark though.
20′
Denmark have to respond. They now need at least two goals to make it through to the round of 16.
18′
Sorenson cheated towards the near post as Honda hit the ball. But Honda merely knuckled the ball towards the far post, and it bent away from Sorenson as he tried to recover.
17′
HE SHOOTS AND HE SCORES! What a fantastic strike by Honda on the free kick! How on Earth did he manage that?
17′
Goal Keisuke Honda
17′
Free kick for Japan. Is it in range for Honda to take a chance?
15′
Matusi got a touch to that Okubo pass earlier, but Sorenson was right there to knock it down. It was quite the deft touch on the pass from Okubo though.
14′
Great run from Tomasson, and he receives the ball in the box, and tries to pass a shot into the far post, but it's just wide. This game has opened up in the past couple of minutes. End to end stuff.
14′
Hasebe has a decent chance from a sharp angle, but his shot is just wide of the near post.
13′
Nearly a goal for Japan. Okubo with a wonderful pass, but Sorenson keeps the ball out.
12′
Yellow Card Yasuhito Endō
12′
Another free kick for Japan in the Danish half. However, Endo takes too long to take it, and receives a yellow card.
10′
Denmark screaming for a foul near the top of the box, but the ref is not having any of it. Play on.
10′
Denmark still with the majority of the possession, but mostly in midfield.
7′
A deflected cross from Poulsen is deflected into the box, but Tomasson could not get anything on the ball just in front of the goal. Ball goes out for a Danish corner though.
5′
Denmark have had the better of the possession in the past couple of minutes. No true chances as of yet though.
3′
Tomasson and Poulsen work a decent one-two that creates a chance for the left back, but Poulsen puts his shot well over.
2′
Endo sends in a decent delivery, but Agger heads the ball out for Denmark, before a foul is called against the Japanese.
2′
The ball hasn't left the Danish half yet. And Japan now have a free kick, 45 yards out from goal.
1′
And Japan gets the game started!
The anthem of Denmark is playing, to be followed by the Japanese anthem.
Teams heading out on to the pitch now.
Just ten minutes left until kickoff now.
Denmark will be out looking for the win, since they have to win, which might mean that Japan will sit back and look to hit on the counter.
Which will make Japan's strategy interesting. Do they go for the win, or do they play for the draw?
So for Denmark to go through, they would have to defeat Japan, as they can not make up the goal differential otherwise. However, since Cameroon is eliminated, Japan can get through with a draw in today's match.
Now, because of a better goal differential, Japan currently sits in second place, with three points, just ahead of Denmark, who also has three points.
Compared to the craziness of the games from yesterday and Tuesday, the scenarios in this group are rather straightforward. With the Dutch already through, and a point away from ensuring the top spot, the winner of the Denmark and Japan game will join the Netherlands in the second round of the tournament.
Japan XI: Kawashima, Abe, Nakazawa, Tulio, Komano, Nagatomo, Okubo, Endo, Hasebe, Matsui, Honda
Denmark XI: Sorensen, S. Poulsen, Agger, Kroldrup, Jacobsen, Rommedahl, C. Poulsen, Jorgensen, Kahlenberg, Tomasson, Bendtner
We are nearing game time, and the lineups for both teams are available.
Welcome all to Goal.com's live commentary of the match between Denmark and Japan in the final match of Group E play. Steven Streff here to provide the commentary today. You may remember me from other epic commentaries, such as the one from the game yesterday between Ghana and Germany.
Match News
Top Scorers
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Diego Forlan Corazo Striker Internacional |
5 | 1 |
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David Villa Striker Barcelona |
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5 | 0 |
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Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
5 | 0 |
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Robert Vittek Striker Istanbul Buyuks |
4 | 1 |
