Netherlands salvage some European pride

Netherlands restored some of Europe's dented pride at the World Cup on Saturday after dismal displays by the continent's other soccer powers, but even their 1-0 defeat of Japan was far from convincing.

Ghana carry Africa's flagging hopes in the continent's first World Cup in Saturday''s second game when they meet Australia.

Compounding Europe''s discomfort in Africa, the French camp was riven by bickering and scandals as they face an early exit.            

Striker Nicolas Anelka was in danger of being ejected from the squad if reports are confirmed that he crudely insulted coach Raymond Domenech during their 2-0 defeat by Mexico. 

England, another European soccer power expected to do well here, was lacerated by the British press after their humiliating goalless draw with Algeria on Friday night. 

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 goal keeping errors at this World Cup. 

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. 

Worst England performance                                      

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.

England, whose smooth qualifying run had raised hopes of their second trophy after a 44-year hiatus, were put through the mincer by the British press after being booed off by their own fans in Cape Town.

The Daily Mirror called the team the "Cape Clowns", and the Daily Express called them "Useless" in a back page headline.    

England at least escaped a shock defeat, unlike Germany -- earlier rated as one of the favourites -- who were beaten 1-0 by Serbia and lacked their usual precision to miss a penalty.

Slovenia, the smallest nation in the tournament with a population of just over two million, put in a fantastic display against a strong United States team, going 2-0 up before being pegged back for a 2-2 draw in an exciting game on Friday.                                           

The vuvuzela-blowing South Africans, whose own team is close to elimination, will get behind Ghana in Rustenburg with their own team likely to face the shame of being the first host to fail to qualify for the second round.

South Africa will need an unlikely combination of results in group A's remaining games to survive and midfielder Teko Modise seemed resigned to elimination on Saturday, saying their priority was to give the nation pride in their final match against France. 

Cameroon dissent                                          

Another traditional African power, Cameroon, had an awful start with a 1-0 defeat to Japan and will hope to bury that memory against Denmark in Group E on Saturday night in Pretoria.

The Cameroonian camp had been in disarray after a revolt by senior players against coach Paul Le Guen's decision to play less experienced youngsters in their first game but the manager has bowed to pressure and agreed to change the line-up.                                           

European failure here contrasts with a charge by the Latin American sides led by Diego Maradona's Argentina.    

The world stage seems to bring the best out of the coach both as player and manager, putting his chequered past of drug abuse far behind him.                                          

Often mocked for his frantic antics on the sidelines, he clearly inspires his team here and even betters them in free kick practice.   

Despite some forecasts of an African breakthrough and the presence of the continent's best players from European leagues, Ghana so far looks the only team likely to match Cameroon and Senegal's World Cup quarter-final showings in 1990 and 2002.

Africa had hoped one of its six teams would do better this year.

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.