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2010 World Cup: Cameroon 1-2 Netherlands – Report

Angela Asante, June 25 2010,
Like Argentina, the Netherlands have secured maximum points in the group stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Oranje pressed the Indomitable Lions all the way down to their den as Klaas Jan Huntelaar buried Cameroon’s wounded lions with an 83rd minute strike to offer Holland a 2-1 victory on Thursday night.

2010 World Cup: Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o hugs Inter Milan team mate and Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder after captaining Cameroon to a 2-1 defeat.

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This means that Paul Le Guen’s men have done nothing else but the opposite of what Roger Milla and his 1990 World Cup team had achieved. Ironically, Samuel Eto’o – who had been criticized by Milla for underperforming in the national team – is the player who scored all of Cameroon’s goals in South Africa.

The Inter Milan forward put his side in the lead against Denmark and also got a goal from the penalty spot against the Netherlands on Thursday night. But his achievement in Africa’s first ever World Cup has proven not to be enough for Cameroon to create something positive. It’s shameful to say that the Indomitable Lions have left South Africa with three straight losses, but that’s the way things have been and Cameroonian fans should accept it.

 

Paul Le Guen’s demoralized players were actually up against a Dutch team that eyed nothing but a win even if Last 16 tickets were already in the bag. It was never going to be easy for Cameroon to get a result. The very fact that there was nothing to play for in terms of contention came hard on the Indomitable Lions who ultimately failed to win pride for their country.

So Eto’o’s penalty goal in between Robin Van Persie’s 36th minute strike and Huntelaar’s winner 7 minutes from regulation time was meaningless. Meanwhile, Arjen Robben enjoyed his first minutes of football in the 2010 World Cup when he came on for Van der Vaart in the 73rd minute. He was a happy man as his shot which hit the upright led to the Netherlands’ winning goal. Van der Vaart though, who conceded the penalty following a handball in the area, would be relieved knowing that the Netherlands’ party wasn’t tarnished.

Well, Cameroon go home with nothing to cheer about. The Netherlands will face debutants and giant killers Slovakia in the Round of 16.

 

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