World Cup Breakdown: Group E

Team	Odds To Win Cup
1. Netherlands	12-to-1
2. Cameroon	80-to-1
3. Denmark	100-to-1
4. Japan	300-to-1

Group A Breakdown
Group B Breakdown
Group C Breakdown
Group D Breakdown

There isn't a more well-rounded side than the Flying Dutchmen. Those reefer-toking Netherlanders don't have a Kaka or David Villa, but what they do have is a quality player at every single position. Nigel de (Bong) Jong (Manchester City), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich) and Wesley Sneijder (Inter) ply their midfield trade on some of the best teams in the world and start for the national team. Up front, more gold in Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben. The backline isn't exactly a picture of youthful soccer exuberance -- averaging almost 30 years old -- but they get the job done.

Also, they've gone hard all the way through qualifying -- scoring 17 goals and only allowing two in eight wins -- and have been rolled through friendlies against U.S., Mexico, Ghana and Hungary. There's no reason to think that they won't keep the momentum going against similar competition in Group E, even after Robben's dipshit maneuver/resulting injury when they were up 6-1 in the 86th fucking minute against Hungary. I'm going with the Oranje in a clean sweep.

Fighting to qualify for the knockout round will be evenly-matched Cameroon and Denmark sides. Led by All-World striker Samuel Eto'o, the Indomitable Lions play a fast-paced style of ball that's worth waking up for...except if they have one of those 5:30 a.m. PST start times. They should score a fair amount of goals, most of which will come from Eto'o. The problem is, they don't really know how to play D. Think 2005-08 Phoenix Suns. Exciting to watch, yes. But the style of play isn't made for deep tourney runs.

Meanwhile, the Danes play on the opposite end of the spectrum. Slow. Methodical. Fucking boring. Think San Antonio Spurs circa Always....but without the success or championships. This style of ball, popularized by coach Morten Olsen, has led them to highs and lows over the past couple years. They did win a qualifying round match-up outright over Portugal (3-2) and tied them another time (1-1), and went on to win the group and secure an automatic bid. But Olsen's Eleven also have head-scratching losses to Hungary, Austria and South Africa on their resume.

The Danes will need big performances from mainstays Daniel Agger and the injury-prone Nicklas Bendtner in order to advance. I don't see it happening. Cameroon will keep the hopes of Africa alive at least until the knockout round.

Japan sucks. But at least the Blue Samurai have this guy pulling for them...