Japan had a good start to the FIFA world cup 2010 humbling Cameroon 1-0. It was a lacklustre performance from Cameroon - never really looked like a team performance in its first game in the world cup. The Africans struggled to possess the ball and generate any rhythm up front, and even when they put a few passes together, the buildup usually was wasted by poor crosses.

After a sloppy first 30 minutes, Japan broke the tie in the 39th minute when Daisuke Matsui's curling cross from the right drifted over the heads of Cameroon defenders Nicolas Nkoulou and Stephane Mbia. The ball fell to Honda at the back post and the striker neatly controlled it and sent it past goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou.

Cameroon's first shot on goal came in the 37th minute, when Eric Choupo-Moting dropped the ball at the top of the box for Eyong Enoh. But Kawashima easily handled the midfielder's low drive. Japan's stiff defense frustrated Cameroon and kept Eto'o in check. Cameroon looked lost in the midfield, and clearly missed the creativity of Alex Song, who coach Paul Le Guen kept on the bench. Eto'o tried to played a more active role in the second half. Just after the break, the Inter Milan striker deftly skipped through three defenders near the touch line before drawing the ball back for Choupo-Moting. But Coupo-Moting's right-footed shot drifted past the left post. Defender Stephane Mbia nearly tied it for Cameroon in the 87th minute, but his long drive hit the left post.

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Netherlands played a good attacking game in its first game at FIFA 2010 world cup winning 2-0 against Denmark. Denmark got the ball in possession few times with Netherlands in total control of the match. The first goal though came through a gift Denmark goal but that said Netherlands played a great attacking game.

The Netherlands' gift goal came as Van Persie beat an onrushing Thomas Sorensen to a long through ball down the left flank, then squared up and sent a cross into the area. Poulsen had plenty of time and space to clear the ball, but his off-balance header bounced off Agger's back and into the net. Denmark had frustrated the Dutch until then with a compact midfield, and the Netherlands never came close to the free-flowing, high-scoring type of play their fans have become accustomed to, despite several other chances. The Dutch continued to press forward after the own goal but struggled to create clear chances. Van Persie had an opportunity to double the lead in the 52nd after being sent clear into the area by Kuyt but Sorensen rushed out and got a hand on the ball. The Arsenal striker then set up Rafael van der Vaart with a cross into the area in the 59th, but his well-placed volley produced a two-handed save from Sorensen. In the 85th minute Dirk Kuyt tapped in a rebound off the post from close range to give Netherlands 2-0 lead.

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This is a match everyone likes to see - a good score, great passes, great dribbles, a great team going all out and giving an all round team. Australia is not a bad team and by no means one of the weaker ones in this world cup, but the score of 4-0 might just indicate that. The first few games had a few great teams playing safe and few ending in a draw. But Germany went all out and routed Australia 4-0.

Germany scored two goals in each half and Tim Cahill was sent off as the three-time champion surged to the top of Group D at the World Cup. Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose scored in the first 30 minutes as Australia coach Pim Verbeek's defensive tactics backfired. Podolski started the rout by ending a slick passing move in the eighth minute and Klose headed in his 11th career World Cup goal in the 26th. Thomas Mueller and Cacau also scored against an overwhelmed Australian defense in the second half after Cahill was red-carded in the 56th minute for a late tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Klose missed two more good chances before Mueller made it 3-0 in the 68th minute, dragging the ball back to avoid Scott Chipperfield's lunge and firing a low shot in off the post. Cacau rounded off the scoring in the 70th, just two minutes after coming on for Klose.

"I think the way we set up our attacks is something we've been working on intensively," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "But we've also worked on how we play off the ball – to move into unused space. We were very good on the ball tonight, and we created beautiful goals."

"It was not an easy game for us," Australian coach Verbeek said. "We tried to make it very difficult for them and use our speed, but we didn't have the ball in the first 20 minutes. The next game is a final," Verbeek said of the match with Ghana. "We have to win that game."

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A good first match for Ghana when it humbled Serbia with a 1-0 win. This is the first win for an african country in FIFA 2010 world cup. Ghana stunned Serbia when Asamoah Gyan scored on an 84th-minute penalty kick Sunday for a 1-0 victory in Group D. The win set off celebrations not only on the Loftus Versfeld pitch, but throughout african subcontinent. Large crowds gathered on major streets in Accra. Cars draped in the national flag swarmed the roads, and some drivers honked their horns while others sang.

In the opener for both teams, Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a cross in the area, then argued the call and the yellow card he received. Gyan drove the penalty kick high to the left for the only goal. The only African team to reach the second round at the 2006 World Cup, Ghana nearly got a second goal. Gyan almost made it 2-0 in injury time but hit the post after a burst down the left side

"For sure, this is a big blow for us. To start a World Cup with a defeat is a bad thing," Serbia coach Radomir Antic said. "We will use all our energy to be positive when preparing for the next game."

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The first match for England turned out to be a blunder for Robert Green, England's goalkeeper. The match ended in a 1-1 draw against USA with Robert Green writing his name onto the lengthening list of blundering England goalkeepers.

"I think it's one of them freak things," said England captain Steven Gerrard, who scored his team's fourth-minute goal. "I don't think you can criticize the goalkeeper. They've been talking about the ball. I think he'll make some important saves for us. We're all behind him."

Green let a routine shot from Clint Dempsey slip through his grasp for the Americans' only goal in their high-profile World Cup opener, a 1-1 draw in Group C. Green was well-positioned as he went down to stop the ball, but it slipped off his gloves and rolled into the net to make it 1-1. He was visibly deflated after his horrendous mistake, which silenced the thousands of England fans.

England coach Fabio Capello said he hasn't decided whether to start Green for the second game against Algeria in Cape Town on Friday.

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FIFA 2010 world cup is Diego Maradona's first world cup as a coach and it started on a decent note with Argentina winning the first game 1-0 against Nigeria. A superstar as a player but a controversial choice as national team coach, Maradona prowled the sideline throughout the match, with hands clasped behind his back. For the first time as Argentina coach, the former captain wore a suit – a stark contrast to the image of him hurling himself, track-suited, into a puddle on the field when Argentina beat Peru last year.

The Nigerians struggled for much of the match to contain Messi - FIFA World player of the year, and striker Gonzalo Higuain also failed to convert three good chances. Gabriel Heinze scored on a diving header in the sixth minute, the only one of seven shots on goal Argentina converted in its 1-0 win Saturday. The Argentines almost paid for their squandered chances, as the Nigerians gained confidence in the second half. Taye Taiwo came inches from an equalizer with a low shot that flew just past Sergio Romero's left post, and substitute Kalu Uche then scooped a weak shot over the crossbar from inside the box with eight minutes left.

"The team made good moves, but we ended up suffering. That's the law of soccer," Maradona said. "Thank God we won the game. "To begin a World Cup in winning fashion gives you a certain sense of calmness. The only thing that concerns me is that we won a big game."

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South Korea started the FIFA world cup 2010 on a fantastic note. It continued where it left from in 2002 performance. South Korea won 2-0 from Greece. South Korea was favorites from start playing its 7th consecutive world cup whereas this was Greece's only 2nd appearance and it started on a lacklustre note. In 1994, the Greeks let Argentina score just two minutes into the opening game. The Greeks improved this time around – by five minutes.

Lee Jung-soo and Park Ji-sung each scored and South Korea won 2-0 over lackluster Greece in Saturday's first Group B match. Ki Sung-yong curled in a free kick from near the left corner flag in the seventh minute, and the ball brushed the top of Konstantinos Katsouranis' head before reaching Lee at the far post. The central defender tapped it into an unguarded net. Park Ji-sung doubled the lead in the 52nd with a slick solo goal when the Manchester United midfielder intercepted a misplaced pass from Vassilis Torosidis and skipped past two defenders before slipping a shot beyond goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.

"We really have to get our act together," Rehhagel, Greece coach said. "We've got to improve a couple of things and be brave and courageous enough."

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The much awaited match on the first day of the FIFA 2010 world cup between Uruguay and France ended goal-less. "It is almost a beautiful 0-0," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "But the result is what it is." Not sure if it was fear of losing the first game or something else. It looked like noone wanted to take any chances and play safe for the first game. This has left Group A wide open as the earlier match between South Africa and Mexico also ended in a draw. So, all 4 teams in Group A have 1 point each.

The low point came when Uruguay's Nicolas Lodeiro was ejected after a wild challenge on Bacary Sagna in the 81st minute for his second yellow card. Down to 10 men for the last 9 minutes plus 3 minutes of injury time, Uruguay concentrated on kicking the ball away from its penalty area and net. But even with a man up, France failed to find a goal. After the final whistle, the Uruguayans embraced, happy to have escaped with a point, while most French players looked sullen, saddled with the disappointment of a lost opportunity. French coach Domenech swiped his hand in frustration and then dug them deep in his pockets before going to shake Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez's hand. Both teams were bothered by a slippery pitch that made deep passes next to impossible and left even Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimmura unsure of his footing at one stage. France dominated the first half, but its lack of a finishing touch showed the lack of confidence.

South Africa plays Uruguay next on Wednesday, one day before France meets Mexico. Lodeiro will be suspended for the game with the host team.

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The first game in the World Cup 2010 finished with a decent result for the host team though Mexico looked to be a better team towards the end. The match ended at a score of 1-1. No host nation has ever failed to make it out of their group (yes, even the U.S. did so in 1994); this being said, there are no shortage of people who think South Africa may soon bear the distinction of being the first. They are considered one of the weakest teams in the tournament and they have drawn a group consisting of three other quality teams with a history of World Cup success. (France and Uruguay round out Group A)

The Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg South Africa was jampacked with football fans all cheering for their own countries. Mexico looked better in the first half, but South Africa really caught fire in the second. At the 11th minute of the 2nd half Siphiwe Tshabalala scored from a good strike which overpassed the goalkeeper of Mexico. Though, in the 79th minute of the match, South Africans were dismayed by what happened through Mexico’s equalizer. Rafael Marquez was able to score a goal due to a bad defense from South Africans. At the end of the first World Cup 2010 match, Giovani Dos Santos was named as the man of the match for Mexico.

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