Teams: Cameroon, Denmark, Holland, Japan
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Holland–Perpetually one of the most talented teams in the field, it is usually infighting that sets the Dutch back. There seems to be no such issue this time around, and the attacking quartet of Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, and Dirk Kuyt is the most dangerous offense in the tournament outside of Spain. If their suspect back four can be just average, the Dutch should not only win the group, but advance deep into the tournament.
Oh, but that back four. Gio Van Branckhorst is 35 years old, and Gregory van der Wiel on the other side lacks experience. There’s little room for error here, and the Dutch routinely under perform. But there’s a sense of excitement around this team, and it’s easy to see why.
2. Denmark–The Danes were in a very tough qualifying group that featured Portugal, Sweden, and an improving Hungary side, and won it. They’re not spectacular anywhere, but they’re solid everywhere, and 22 year old Arsenal striker Niklas Bendtner fancies himself as a future best-player-in-the-world. If he can start to fulfill that promise and at least equal Samuel Eto’o, the Danes should make it through over Cameroon.
3. Cameroon–Cameroon was an overlooked African side with Ghana and Ivory Coast, along with the host South Africa until just a few weeks ago. With the injuries to Michael Essien and Didier Drogba though, Cameroon has become the host continent’s best hope to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament. With star striker Samuel Eto’o becoming more erratic in recent weeks, first threatening retirement then picking up a red card in the first half during a friendly against Portugal, the hopes of Cameroon have dipped a bit. Though their defense is weak, if he Eto’o can get focused and play well, The Indomitable Lions may well surpass Denmark and advance after all.
4. Japan–The Japanese are a solid team that has just been drawn into a very unfortunate group. Striker Keisuke Honda acquitted himself very well with CSKA Moscow this year, but the Japanese struggle against more physical teams (like say, Denmark and Cameroon). And asking them to take even a point from Holland is a tall order. In any other group they’d be a dark horse candidate to advance, but here…it’s doubtful, at best.
Players to Watch
1. Wesley Sneijder (AM, Holland)–Infighting routintely undoes the Holland squad, and if it were to happen this year it’d likely be a split between Camp Van der Vaart and Camp Sneijder, as there’s likely not room on the field for both of them. Sneijder seems to have earned the first chance, and if he can silence his critics the Dutch could gel into a team capable of winning. If he struggles and once again the camp is divided, an early exit following the group stages is likely.
2. Alex Song (MID, Cameroon)–Cameroon’s defense is suspect, but Song can do a lot to protect that group with a strong effort in the defensive midfield. His hard work and strength in the midfield should free up Achille Emana to do what he does best-create. But if Emana has to take a more defensive role then The Indomitable Lions will struggle to be creative enough to find their way through the Danish and Japanese defenses.
3. Niklas Bendtner (FOR, Denmark)–Bendtner has declared himself one of the best players in the world, and this group is his chance to prove that. None of the other squads in this group feature strong defenses, and if he can fire in a crucial goal against Holland the Danes are more than solid enough through the rest of the lineup to frustrate the Oranje and set themselves up to win the group. Unlike Eto’o, though, he doesn’t have to carry the load himself; Martin Jorgensen and Dennis Rommendahl are effective wings, and playmaker Christian Eriksen offers a very skilled option off the bench or in support.
