Previews

Netherlands favourites in Group E

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 06/06/2010
Football betting

All eyes are now starting to hover across South Africa ahead of this summer's World Cup finals and we will do the same by taking a look at the chances of Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, who will battle it in Group E.

Netherlands

Without a shadow of doubt, the classy Dutch, who are the online sportsbook favourites to finish as group winners, are the team to beat in Group E.

Under Bert van Marwijk, the team won eight consecutive games to romp through their qualifying group and, with Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder in their ranks, they will prove a tough nut to crack.

Defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong is expected to partner van Marwijk's son-in-law and national team veteran Mark van Bommel in the engine room.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be hoping to go out with a bang. He has already confirmed he will make an exit from the international set-up at the end of the competition.

Denmark

The Danes may lack a surprise element but, with a defensive partnership of Liverpool's Daniel Agger and Palermo's sought-after Simon Kjaer, they have a decent chance of succeeding from the group.

The management will be sweating over the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen after he suffered a dislocated elbow in an end of season game for Stoke City against Chelsea. Although surgery was put off, it remains to be seen whether he will feature.

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Midfield trio Christian Poulsen, Daniel Jensen and Thomas Kahlenberg could prove a fine team across the park while Arsenal striker Nickas Bendtner will lead the line.

Japan

The Japanese lost just two games in their Asia qualifying groups - to Bahrain and Australia - but they will face stiffer opponents on the biggest stage of them all and they are set for a big struggle.

They plucky nation shot themselves onto the footballing map eight years ago in their homeland after they grabbed wins over Russia and Tunisia in the group stage, they were defeated 1-0 in the round of 16 by eventual semi-finalists Turkey, but any repeat is not expected in South Africa.

With CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda and Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe in the midfield, much of their hope is pinned on their European-based players.

Defensively, they look suspect and Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon should have enough to pick them off.

Cameroon

As always, the Indomitable Lions' hopes of progression will rest at the feet and head of Internazionale striker Samuel Eto'o.

The sharp-shooter is expected to be partnered in attack by Mallorca's Pierre Webo or Paul Alo'o Efoulou of Nancy.

With Alex Song, Jean Makoun and Stephane Mbia likely to form a potent midfield, the Africans look a classy unit in the two advanced thirds of the pitch.

However, their defensive frailties were exposed during the Africa Cup of Nations in January and this could stymie their progress this summer.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who enjoyed relative success with Tottenham Hotspur this term could be joined by veteran Rigobert Song in their back four and it doesn't particularly bode well for their chances.

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