World Cup 2010: Day Nine

I don't know if it's ironic or just kind of sad, but this is really starting to look like it will be the worst World Cup for African teams since 1982, the year West Germany and Austria colluded to deny Algeria a place in the second round, and the last time no African team advanced past the first.

Netherlands 1-0 Japan

Japan played fairly well defensively in this game - the Dutch goal was a rocket from Wesley Sneijder that the keeper could do pretty much nothing about - and nearly tied it when Shinji Okazaki fired maybe a yard over the bar on the stroke of 90 minutes. Japan now go into a winner-take-all match with Denmark and the only question is this: can Japan score enough to win? Will one goal be enough? A draw would actually be sufficient to progress Japan, so maybe they won't even need one goal provided they can keep another clean sheet; they're quite close to not having conceded in the World Cup at all. The Netherlands seem bored, like they're just waiting for the knockouts to start; they dominated possession as usual, but only took ten shots, although you can chalk some of that up to Japan's defense.

Australia 1-1 Ghana

The Socceroos are alive by just the slimmest of margins, but had it not been for Harry Kewell's ejection for a handball on the goal line - the resulting penalty from Asamoah Gyan providing Ghana's lone goal, as well - they could have taken this one. Australia went up 1-0 in the eleventh minute and then were successful at holding off a rampaging Ghana until the ball hit Kewell's arm. Oddly, Ghana shut down for much of the second half as if playing for a draw; the Black Stars didn't take a shot between the 60th and 88th minutes, while Australia surged forward as if they were the ones who had an extra man. Ghana's center backs were woeful and very nearly gave the game away, with Australia coming closer to the winning goal than Ghana really ever did. Ghana suddenly came alive in the last few minutes, but it was too little, too late. The real question is why they didn't attack more strongly against a team down a man, something known only to Ghana themselves.

Denmark 2-1 Cameroon

I only saw the last few minutes of this one, in which Cameroon tried for an equalizer but were clearly gassed. It sounds like there was some slack defending on both sides, with Cameroon taking an early lead through Samuel Eto'o but proceeding to give it back and then some.

So how are the African teams doing? Well, only Cameroon have been officially eliminated, but it's not looking great. South Africa are almost certain to be eliminated, the first hosts ever to miss the second round. Nigeria are bottom of Group B, though they could advance with a win over South Korea and a little help from the Argentinians. Algeria are bottom of Group C, though a win over the US combined with a Slovenia win over England would advance them. Ghana do top Group D at the moment, but they may well need a win over Germany to advance, something I'm not lining up to bet on. Ivory Coast have a chance; we'll know more after their game with Brazil and perhaps more specifically after Portugal's game with North Korea. But I'm not convinced by them either, especially with Didier Drogba not fully fit.

Two African teams have never advanced in the same year, so if one moves on, Africa has merely lived up to usual expectations. But with this Cup being in Africa, obviously so much more was expected. And without a lot of help, it's entirely possible that no African team will move on. For the sake of the continent and this Cup, I hope that doesn't happen.