Matchday 9 - For Whom The Bell Tolls

Netherlands 1 (Sneijder 53) - Japan 0
Ghana 1 (Gyan 25p) - Australia 1 (Holman 11)
Cameroon 1 (Eto'o 10) - Denmark 2 (Bendter 33, Rommedahl 61)

Matchday 9 saw Australia sent to the brink of elimination after a 1-1 draw against Ghana. In Group E Cameroon were eliminated following a 2-1 loss to Denmark, and the Netherlands booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Japan.

Australian's have woken up this morning with the Socceroos on the verge of elimination from the World Cup after a heart-breaking 1-1 draw with Ghana overnight. The result takes the destiny of qualification out of Australia's hands. They must beat Serbia in their final group game to advance and hope that Ghana can defeat Germany (unlikely!). Alternatively, if Germany defeat Ghana, their margin of victory combined with the margin of Australia's victory of Serbia must total at least 5 goals. It is a monumental task for the Socceroos to overcome, and one they don't deserve after a brilliant performance against Ghana. The Socceroos took an early lead thanks to former whipping boy Brett Holman in the 11th minute, before disaster struck in the 25th minute. Harry Kewell was shown a (deserved) straight red card for a handball in the penalty box, and Gyan slotted the penalty for Ghana to even the game at 1-1. Needing to win the game Australia could not hold out for draw, and they bravely pressed on with great attacking spirit creating a number of chances. Perhaps Australia's last chance at qualification came with only 15 minutes to go, when Luke Wilkshire found himself unmarked in the penalty box with only the goalie to beat. Tragically he shot straight at the keeper, and with that, Australia's chance for a famous victory disappeared. Still, the country should be proud of the team who fought out the entire game and probably deserved to win. Their is still hope for a miracle on the last matchday in a World Cup that has delivered little luck to Australia thus far.

Group E's qualification will go down to the final match between Japan and Denmark after the Netherlands booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Japan, and the Danes eliminated Cameroon with a come from behind 2-1 win. The Dutch were held well by the Samurai's in the first half but produced an excellent display in the second half. The winner finally came from Wesley Sneijder (captain of my fantasy team - bang!) whose long range shot was deflected into the goal by the Japanese goaltender. The Dutch looked good in patches but were still a little short of the better performers we have seen at the tournament so far (Argentina, Brazil, Germany) in my opinion.

Updated odds to advance - Group D - Germany ($1.30), Serbia ($1.50), Ghana ($1.80), Australia ($20). Group E - Netherlands (n/a), Japan ($1.70), Denmark ($2.30), Cameroon (n/a)

What We Learned - That Australia was good enough to get out of this group. Luck has absolutely deserted them at this tournament with back-to-back red cards, and Serbia fluking a win over Germany. When playing attacking football with attacking players this side is not that far of the 2006 cohort. The 2010 World Cup may be looked back on as a case of what might have been.

The Falcon's Spud Of The Day - Cameroon - The first World Cup on your own continent and you get yourself eliminated after just 2 games with losses to relative football small fry countries Japan and Denmark? An appalling effort from the first African nation to make it to the quarter final stages.

Tonight's Games - We get the second round of matches in Group F starting with Slovakia and Paraguay. After pushing Italy the Paraguayans should be far too strong for the Slovaks. Italy takes on Australasia's other hope in New Zealand, and the defending champs should be far too strong. The late game sees a cracker with Brazil taking on Cote d'Ivoire. I expect the South Americans to just edge this one.

Suggested Investment - I will be taking a South American multi today and taking Paraguay and Brazil both to win their matches.