This was unquestionably the first big shock of the World Cup. Japan had arrived at their opening match in a state of shambles; Cameroon looked quietly efficient and, given Ivory Coast’s group, looked the best bet to be the African team that progressed furthest in this competition. All the calculations were undone by a cross from Daisuke Matsui that Stephane Mbia should have cut out.

Instead, Keisuke Honda drove it home to give Japan their first World Cup win outside their own country. Cameroon had the firepower to hit back but there was little real leadership from Samuel Eto’o, whom Paul Le Guen would have banked on for a response. Pierre Webo and Achille Emana came close but Cameroon should have expected far more.