Winning the Cup won't be easy'

    

Netherlands, who laboured to a 2-0 win over Denmark in their opening game, lead the group with six points and if Cameroon fail to beat the Danes later on Saturday the Dutch will become the first team to book a place in the second round.

"We came here to win a prize to become world champions now that's far from straightfoward and easy," added Van Marwijk.

"If we can continue to show stability, and if we maintain confidence in really winning something, we might get far. So the target is to go for the prize."

Japan, who surprisingly beat Cameroon 1-0 in their opening match, had declared their intent to frustrate their opponents but they also attacked in numbers when they had the chance and will be aggrieved not to have got a goal.

"During the first half we were not only concentrating on the defence," said Japan coach Takeshi Okada.

"We expected the Netherlands to be frustrated but defence alone was not enough. So I told our players to be very courageous and aggressive when we had the ball."


Image: Japan's Yoshito Okubo (centre) is challenged by Netherlands's Nigel de Jong (left) and John Heitinga as they vie for possession