SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Holland fans expect to go far in World Cup after topping their group

Record ID: 376614

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Holland fans expect to go far in World Cup after topping their group
  • Date: 25th June 2010
  • Summary: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 24,2010) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF FANS LEAVING CAPE TOWN STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) HUBERT, DUTCH SUPPORTER SAYING: "Semi-finals I hope. Finals, I doubt it, but semi-finals, I think we'll make it." FANS WALKING MUSIC BAND WITH TRAVELLING ORANJE CARAVAN MORE FANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH SUPPORTERS, SAYING: [PETER] "The
  • Embargoed: 10th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVARJ02SEEFHXKXBHSZHY0OWLV7
  • Story Text: Dutch fans were on a high in Cape Town after their team continued their impressive charge at the World Cup when they beat Cameroon 2-1 on Thursday to make it three wins out of three in Group E and advance to a last 16 meeting with Slovakia.
    Having won all eight qualifiers, the Dutch, who have already beaten Denmark and Japan here, became the first team since Brazil in 1982 to win all their qualifying and group games.
    They went into Thursday's match already assured of progress and secured top spot with goals by Robin van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar either side of a Samuel Eto'o penalty.
    They also had the bonus of a return to action for winger Arjen Robben, who missed the first two games with a hamstring problem but delivered a late cameo off the bench.
    Nicely balanced throughout the team, Netherlands have qualified without ever needing to hit peak form and at present are flying the flag as Europe's most impressive nation.
    However, it was something of a mixed performance against Cameroon as they started slowly, took control, were again pushed back but finished strongly.
    "We really believe in them now. The second half was great. And Robben is fit again, so We can't lose. We just can't lose," said one Dutch fan.
    Cameroon can hold their heads high despite going home pointless -- their worst showing in six World Cups.
    Paul Le Guen announced after the game that, as expected, he would not be continuing as their manager.
    "Ah, the game, we're very, very disappointed. This is a one in a life history that Cameroon is going home with zero points. This one, that we'll never forget - 2010 in Africa and Cameroon doesn't even have one point. Look at all the fans that are coming to support them. But for that it is too much. We have got it up to here. We can't take it anymore ," said one Cameroon fan.
    After a few nervous moments in defence, Van Persie should have put Netherlands ahead in the 19th minute when he chested down a lovely 40-metre pass by Giovanni van Bronckhorst but shot meekly at goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.
    However, the striker made sure in the 36th when a quick-fire one-two with Rafael van der Vaart put him through and he slotted the ball into the net through the keeper's legs.
    The goal settled the Dutch and they began to fizz the ball around sharply on Green Point stadium's high-speed surface.
    Cameroon kept pressing though as Eto'o, Landry Nguemo, Jean Makoun and Aurelien Chedjou all had second-half chances.
    Their pressure was rewarded when Van der Vaart, jumping in the wall, handled a Geremi free kick in the area and Eto'o equalised with a 65th-minute penalty.
    Robben came on in the 73rd minute and, after looking lively from his first touch, set up the winner when his 20-metre shot rebounded from a post straight to substitute Huntelaar, who sidefooted it back into the empty net.
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