Japan’s free spirits dump Danes out

JAPAN booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup after outstanding first-half free-kicks from Keisuke Honda and Yasuhito Endo sent them on their way to victory over Denmark in Rustenburg.

Needing only a draw to qualify, Japan coach Takeshi Okada named an unchanged team for the third match in succession, while his counterpart Morten Olsen was boosted by the availability of Nicklas Bendtner, who passed a late fitness test.

The Scandinavians had the first real chance inside five minutes, but Tomasson found himself in the wrong position as he tried to deal with a deflected Simon Poulsen cross and the chance went begging.