Denmark vs Japan World Cup 2010 Live Blog: Results Scores and Plays

Hello. Colm Larkin here, Bleacher Reporter writer and your guide through this crucial Group D match between Denmark and Japan.

It is all to play for as these two teams battle it out for the remaining Group E qualifying place. With both teams level on points, Japan’s superior goal difference means it only requires a draw. Denmark simply has to win.

So if you can’t get to a TV why not follow all the drama and excitement here? You can join the conversation by posting your comments below.

FULL-TIME Japan 3 Denmark 1

That's an excellent win for Japan. Solid at the back, skillful going forward, and lethal from freekicks.

It sets up an intriguing second round clash with Group E winners Paraguay.

Both teams have shown themselves capable of keeping it tight at the back but can also attack with pace and skill.

On today's showing a quarterfinal place is not beyond Japan. 

Denmark played poorly for the second match at the tournament and, let's be honest, were lucky to take the three points against Cameroon. Nevertheless, I've enjoyed watching them, though I have mostly been laughing at Tomasson's appalling finishing and the sloppy defending.

Japan's players are saying arrigato to their fans. It's a heart-warming scene.

Thanks for your company.

88 min. GOAL! Japan 3 Denmark 1 (Okazaki)

A wonderful bit of skill from Honda who pulled off an outrageous backheel flick to take the ball past Rommedahl in the Danish penalty area. With Sorensen and Poulsen baring down on him, he had the vision to square a perfect pass to Okazaki who tapped in an easy finish.

Great stuff from Japan. Honda is a class act.

85 min. Well done to Tomasson for having the nerve to take the penalty, given he had barely connected with a ball all game. His spot kick was really poor though, and he did almost miss the rebound. But nevertheless congratulations to him.

Denmark still need two goals to qualify, though I think it will need two more generous refereeing decision to get them.

82 min. GOAL! Denmark 1 Japan 2 (Tomasson)

Guess what? Tomasson's penalty was saved by the goalkeeper but the rebound fell kindly to the striker, who finished and is now Denmark's record goalscorer.

The penalty was a soft decision though as Agger fell over in the box.

Holland are now 2-1 up against Cameroon. Huntelaar scored.

81 min. PENALTY TO DENMARK

Tomasson is taking it. Really?

80 min. The Japanese fans don't look at that happy. Maybe they are just bored by Denmark playing the same long ball into Japan's box.

76 min. SUBSTITUTION. Okazaki for the excellent Matsui. I assume Okazaki will play up front with Honda dropping into midfield.

71 min. A ricochet off a defender let Rommedahl in behind the Japanese back four. Fortunately for Japan, the winger's excellent pass found Tomasson. I'll let you imagine how that move ended. I thought I heard a swoosh.

69 min. Eriksen went close with a shot from distance. He looks pretty lively so far. Which is more than can be said for his teammates. Denmark is having all of the ball but doing absolutely nothing with it.

64 min. SUBSTITUTION. Last throw of the dice from Olsen sees the youngest player at the World Cup, 18-year old Christian Eriksen replace Kahlenberg. Let's see if the exciting teen can inspire a comeback.

Speaking of which, Eto'o has equalized for Cameroon with a penalty.

60 min. Instead of me having to constantly type it every five minutes, why don't you just assume that Tomasson has failed to connect with another decent cross or pass. Yes, another air-kick from the former Milan striker.

57 min. SUBSTITUTION. Soren Larsen for Kroldrup. Denmark brings on a striker for a defender. I imagine Japan will enjoy playing against just three Danish defenders.

53 min. Oh dear! It's becoming a bit embarassing for Tomasson now. A nice flick on from Bendtner finds him free at the far post, but his first touch is awful, which allows Japan's captain Hasebe to clear.

52 min. Nice build-up play by Bendtner leads to a good cross from the right. Guess who completely misses the ball in the air?

That's right, Tomasson.

48 min. Christian Poulsen has been booked for a foul on Honda. 45 minutes left for one of my pre-tournament red card favorites to prove me right.

46 min. The second half kicks off. Denmark needs to score three if it wants to keep its World Cup dream alive.

HALF-TIME JAPAN 2 DENMARK 0

Great half for Japan who leads thanks to a couple of brilliant freekicks.

The Danes had some early opportunities, which they must now regret missing. Japan's defense has denied Denmark's players any space near its goal, except for Tomasson who keeps missing the ball when he should be scoring.

Lots of work for Danish coach Morten Olsen to do at halftime. And by work, I mean shouting.

Talk to you in 10 minutes.

44 min. Every time the Japanese attack they look like scoring. When the Danes go forward, they look ponderous. I haven't seen much of Bendtner since that early coloring-in incident.

41 min. Another freekick within range for Japan. Hang onto to your Viking helmets...

How disappointing, Japan fail to score from it.

36 min. SUBSTITUTION Danish coach Morten Olsen makes an early change. Jacob Poulsen is on for Martin Jorgensen. I think the veteran was looking a bit slow out there so the younger Aarhus midfielder has replaced him.

Van Persie has just put Holland 1-0 up against Cameroon.

31 min. GOAL 2-0 Japan (Endo)

Another brilliant freekick by Japan. This one was very central and Denmark seemed to assume that Honda would hit it. Instead Endo hit a peach of right foot shot around the wall and into the top corner. Great goal.

30 min. Just saw a reply of that Honda goal. He sidefoots it like it was a cross, but I'm pretty sure he did intend to shoot.

Kroldrup has just been booked for fouling Okuba. Japan has another freekick close to the Danish goal.

24 min. The Danish players are making some nice runs up front but, unlike against Cameroon, Japan's defense is working really hard to deny them any space near the goal.

Having said that Tomasson found himself free in the area again and once more completely missed the ball.

Perhaps knowing that he hasn't scored for his country since February 2008, the Japanese tactic is to mark everyone but Tomasson.

17 min. GOAL! 1-0 Japan (Honda)

What a brilliant goal by Honda! He blasted home a free-kick from way out on the right. The ball swerved in the air in front of Sorensen who had taken a step in the opposite direction and couldn't readjust in time.

Denmark is in trouble.

15 min. Couple of great chances for Japan. Sorensen saves from his knee from Matsui and Hasebe shoot narrowly wide. Then Tomasson goes close for Denmark. That was an exciting couple of minutes.

Earlier the referee booked Endo for taking his time over a free kick. Does he think Japan has started wasting time already?

8 min. Meanwhile away from fashion matters, Tomasson messed up a decent chance by neither heading or volleying it.

6 min. It was fortunate that somebody on the Danish bench had a red marker. Do you think the physio or someone is sitting there now proudly thinking, "I knew we'd need that marker some day".

4 min. Weird. Bendtner has had to use a red marker to color in some white tape on his red socks. Not sure why,  it's not as if Japan is wearing white socks.

Am I talking about the team's clothing a bit too much?

1 min. We're off. Japan wear blue, Denmark red. Does that matter to you?

National Anthems

Japan's is very short. Good for them. Aside from La Marseilles, Deutschland Uber Alles and Chile's jaunty number, most national anthems are really tedious.

Pre-match Build Up

I’m really looking forward to this game. Denmark was lots of fun in its previous match against Cameroon, giving the Africans lots of opportunities to score with sloppy play at the back, whilst attacking with pace and style. 

Japan has impressed with its solidity at the back and when the team is in the mood, it can look good going forward. However as a draw is enough for Japan to reach the second round, I expect coach Takeshi Okada to send his team out to defend.

Aside from that we should see some fun fan action. The Japanese supporters are topping the charts when it comes to crazy costumes and they cleverly recreate their national flag by painting their faces white with a red nose. 

That kind of innovation in dressing up is what the World Cup is all about. 

Team News

Denmark is makes two changes from the team that beat Cameroon.

Center back Simon Kjaer picked up his second yellow card against the Africans and is suspended. His place is taken by Fiorentina defender Per Kroldrup, who will be hoping not to be joining his Italian club mates on an early flight back to Europe.

Thomas Kahlenberg comes in for former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer. 

Japan’s manager Takeshi Okada names the same starting line-up for the third successive match. If it ain’t broke…

Denmark (4-4-2)

Sorensen
L. Jacobsen – Kroldrup – Agger – S. Poulsen
Rommedahl – C. Poulsen – Jorgensen – Gronkjaer
Tomasson – Bendtner

Japan (4-3-3)

Kawashima
Nagatomo – Nakazawa – Tanaka – Komano
Matsui – Abe – Endo
Hasebe – Honda – Okubo