Both Holland and Japan went into this game on three points.

The referee, Hector Baldassi of Argentina, is the second referee to be in charge of his second game; having shown a red card in the Serbia vs Ghana match.

Perhaps Holland were feeling nervous after watching Switzerland beat Spain and Germany lose to Serbia. Or were they trying to bore Japan and drain them of their energy, by putting them to sleep.

Even the referee had no real motivation to go for his notebook; until the 36th minute, when Gregory Van Der Wiel cynically nudged Daisuke Matsui into a roll.

Half-time: 0:0

The second-half had to get better, as anything is better than nothing.
Wesley Sneijder finally relieved the boredom with a solid strike that Eiji Kawashima could only push into his own net; eight minutes after the break.

Japan had a few chances, twenty minutes from time. Inspired by that, Takeshi Okada made a double attacking substitution, six minutes later.

It was Ibrahim Afellay, for Holland, however who appeared the most promising of all the substitutions. Shinji Okazaki - another substitute - also came close to equalising for Japan in the closing minutes. Yuto Nagatomo tried to look for a penalty but Hector Baldassi wasn't deceived. Although it looked like he pointed to the spot, it was a signal for a goal-kick.

Unless Cameroon beat Denmark, Holland will be the first team to qualify for the Second Round.

Holland 1 Japan 0