One can only assume the powers that be decided to conclude Group F before Group E because viewers in New Zealand would be able to watch their side go out at a reasonable time. But it probably means plenty of Japanese missed their side put in what has to be one of their best World Cup performances.
Two great free kicks and some great individual brilliance from Honda ensured another European team would deservedly fall by the wayside. The Dutch and the Japanese fully deserve their place in the last 16. There'll be inquests over how Cameroon managed to lose all three of their games. I thought they'd finish runners-up to Holland, but instead they find themselves propping up the rest. Symptomatic of how badly the African teams have fared in their own back yard. 1. HOLLAND 2 JAPAN 3 Denmark 4 Cameroon