The Netherlands kept its opening-game win streak alive with its seventh straight, while Japan netted its first. But Italy learned that the road to repeating as champions could be paved with potholes.
Netherlands 2, Denmark 0
The Danes were playing well on defense when disaster struck, and they kicked an own goal in the 46th minute of play for the first score of the match. The Netherlands had a rough time on offense, especially in the first half, but managed to double the lead in the 85th minute for a 2-0 victory.
Japan 1, Cameroon 0
Cameroon struggled out of the gate, never quite regaining its composure against Japan. Keisuke Honda scored the game’s only goal in the 39th minute, leading the Japanese to their first World Cup victory on foreign soil.
Italy 1, Paraguay 1
Italy had some bad luck in the first game of its quest to defend the World Cup title, as it lost star keeper Gianluigi Buffon after the first half due to back pain. Daniele De Rossi tied the game in the 63rd minute, after Paraguay defender Antolin Alcaraz scored in the 39th.
Standings
Group A
South Africa (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Mexico (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
France (0-0-1, 1 point, 0 goals, 0 goals against)
Uruguay (0-0-1, 1 point, 0 goals, 0 goals against)
Group B
South Korea (1-0-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 0 goals against)
Argentina (1-0-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 0 goals against)
Nigeria (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 1 goal against)
Greece (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 2 goals against)
Group C
Slovenia (1-0-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 0 goals against)
England (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
USA (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Algeria (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 1 goal against)
Group D
Germany (1-0-0, 3 points, 4 goals, 0 goals against)
Ghana (1-0-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 0 goals against)
Australia (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 4 goals against)
Serbia (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 1 goal against)
Group E
Netherlands (1-0-0, 3 points, 2 goals, 0 goals against)
Japan (1-0-0, 3 points, 1 goal, 0 goals against)
Denmark (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 2 goals against)
Cameroon (0-1-0, 0 points, 0 goals, 1 goal against)
Group F
Italy (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
Paraguay (0-0-1, 1 point, 1 goal, 1 goal against)
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
Coming up: New Zealand faces Slovakia at 7:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, June 15. Opening up Group G play is Ivory Coast vs. Portugal at 10 a.m., followed by Brazil vs. North Korea at 2:30 p.m.
Here is the complete World Cup schedule.
