SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Netherlands salvage some European pride for soccer fans

Record ID: 452606

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Netherlands salvage some European pride for soccer fans
  • Date: 18th June 2010
  • Summary: DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 19, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FANS LEAVING THE MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM SOUNDBITE (Dutch) WIL MOS SAYING: "I think we could have played better against the Danish team, the first half here was a disappointment but we finished it of well. We have six points in two matches as far as I am concerned we will go on to the last sixteen then on to the final." FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) MARIANNE REINDERS (RIGHT) SAYING: "We are going back to the campsite where we will have a beer with everybody." MOUNTED POLICE WIDE OF STADIUM WITH MOUNTED POLICE IN FOREGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) LORENZO TEN BRINK (LEFT) AND MERVIN ACOCA SAYING: LORENZO TEN BRINK: "We are almost there, five matches to go. Even though we didn't play very well, whoever starts badly will be world champions." MERVIN ACOCA: "We will be world champions." FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MR HIRAHATA FOOTBALL FAN SAYING: "They are doing really well in the World Cup so far, and if they take on this fight, I think they will do really well." DUTCH FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) RIEA FURUHASHI (LEFT) AND MARI KAGAWA (RIGHT) SAYING: MARI KAGAWA "There is still Denmark, we are going to win against Denmark and go to the next round." RIEA FURUHASHI "Of course we are going to either win or draw to Denmark and go to the next round." MARI KAGAWA "We will still fight, never give up Japan." JAPANESE FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MR TABATA SAYING: "Today I think we did fine, I think we did well. We fought very well. The second half was very disappointing, but I think we played Japanese football." DUTCH FANS
  • Embargoed: 3rd July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2D2BB5Y0GO8WMHWPPELRQMY7Y
  • Story Text: Netherlands' victory against Japan, one of the surprise teams of the tournament, came through an error by goalkeeper Eiji Kawashimawho who misjudged the flight of a belter from Wesley Sneijder that went in off his wrist in the 53rd minute.
    It will be added to the long list of goalkeeping errors at this World Cup.
    "I think we could have played better against the Danish team, the first half here was a disappointment but we finished it of well. We have six points in two matches as far as I am concerned we will go on to the last sixteen then on to the final," said one fan, Wil Mos.
    The Japanese looked unlucky not to equalise in a wave of attacks. Netherlands will now be the first nation to qualify if Cameroon -- so far disappointing -- do not beat Denmark in the evening match.
    "They are doing really well in the World Cup so far, and if they take on this fight, I think they will do really well," said one Japanese fan. "There is still Denmark, we are going to win against Denmark and go to the next round," agreed another.
    The other European football giants have been providing weak performances. England delivered one of their worst tournament performances for years and even appeared to mystify their own coach, Fabio Capello, in a goalless draw with unfancied Algeria, following early upset defeats of France, Spain and Germany.
    The biggest dampener has been the hosts' failure to shine, with Bafana Bafana picking up just one point from two games, increasing FIFA's fears that fans will start abandoning matches, robbing stadiums of atmosphere, if their side is knocked out.
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