Needing just a draw to progress, two wonderful free kicks from Keisuke Honda and then Yasu-hito Endo in the first half helped Japan to a 3 1 win over Denmark, knocking the Danes out and setting up a clash with Paraguay in the playoffs.

In another group E match, Netherlands beat Cameroon 2-1.

Netherlands have already qualified to the playoffs and will play against Slovakia.

Meanwhile, defending champions of the FIFA World Cup, Italy crashed out in the pool stages as they went down to first timers Slovakia 3-2.

Robert Vittek's brace put Slovakia in control but Antonio Di Natale halved the deficit and Fabio Quagliarella looked like he had leveled it at 2-2, but an offside decision went against him.

Substitute Kamil Kopunek made it 3-1 to Slovakia before Quagliarella's brilliant lob gave Italy fleeting hope, but they could not find a third to save their skins as they joined fellow 2006 finalists France in sinking out of the tournament at the first hurdle.

Italy team coach, Marcello Lippi has taken all the blame for the Defending Champions dismal performance.

Lippi through a translator told reporters the team was not prepared well.

New Zealand's FIFA World Cup campaign ended with another draw as they held group winners Paraguay 0-0 but went out of the tournament.

The last four matches of the pool stages will take place tomorrow morning.
 
Looking at the upcoming games tomorrow morning at 2am, Portugal will play Brazil and North Korea will take on Ivory Coast.

At 6.30am Chile will take on Spain and Switzerland will play Honduras.

Looking at the games that will take place in the second round of competition, Uruguay will take on South Korea, Argentina faces Mexico, England will face Germany, Japan will take on Paraguay, Netherlands are up against Slovakia and USA plays Ghana.