The Netherlands became the first team to qualify for the round of 16 at the World Cup, beating Japan 1-0 Saturday and then watching Denmark defeat Cameroon 2-1. The two-time World Cup finalists, who also became the first European team to earn six points from its first two games at this year's tournament, dictated play but still did not display the kind of fluid football that fans have been expecting to see. Sneijder's 53rd-minute strike finally broke down Japan's stubborn resistance, which had stifled Dutch creativity for much of the match. Robin van Persie laid the ball back and Sneijder sent a powerful right-foot shot that Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima could only deflect into his net. It was the Inter Milan playmaker's 15th goal in 63 internationals. “Our players did everything they could, but we could not beat the Netherlands,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. “We feel sorry for the fans.” The Netherlands struggled to a 2-0 victory over Denmark in its first Group E match, while Japan had a 1-0 victory over Cameroon. “Why do we focus on good football instead of winning?” Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. “Let me assure you that we really, really want to win and if we can do that in style then great. But you have to be able to win ugly games.” Before Sneijder's goal, Van Persie missed chances for the Dutch in front of 62,010 fans at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Japan responded to the goal by pushing forward and Yoshito Okubo had two shots in quick succession, the first saved by Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and the second went over the bar. Substitute Ibrahim Afellay came close to doubling the Dutch lead in the 84th and again in the 88th when he bore down on the Japan goal, but he was foiled both times by good saves from Kawashima diving at his feet. Japan nearly made the Netherlands pay for those misses when substitute Shinji Okazaki latched onto a deep cross at the far post and shot just over the bar. “It shows you there are no easy games. Look at France and Germany,” Van Marwijk said, referring to the World Cup losses for the European powerhouses. The Netherlands reached the World Cup final in 1974 and 1978, but lost both times. Japan's best finish was reaching the round of 16 when it co-hosted the tournament with South Korea in 2002. The win set a record of 10 straight victories for the Netherlands in World Cup qualifiers and final tournament matches, including eight before the two in South Africa. It also extended the Dutch record of never losing to an Asian team. It has now won eight matches and drawn one against Asian opponents. The win put the Netherlands in first place in Group E with six points. Cameroon and Denmark are also in the group. Van Marwijk said he was expecting an aggressive Japan team and that's what he found as Okada played a four-man defense and a mobile five-man midfield that never gave the Dutch time to settle on the ball. Kuyt had the most spectacular Dutch effort before the break, with an overhead kick in the 10th minute after a cross from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but defender Yuji Nakazawa headed the effort clear.
