By Robin Toskin

The battle between the Danish Vikings and the Blue Samurai of Japan at Rustenburgs’ Royal Bafokeng Stadium once again demonstrated that football is war.

Like military combats when one country goes to war with another, the reasons for waging it are not always very clear to every citizen.

But the reasons for the war in Bafokeng were clear, the World Cup trophy, which Italy surrendered meekly after a crushing defeat by Slovakia.

Nevertheless, like in military battles, nationalism demands that each citizen rallies behind their leader whatever the strengths or weaknesses of their team.

After Denmark beat Cameroon 2-1, a Danish fan told FeverPitch he fears for the Sons of the Rising Sun or Nippon Boys.

"The doubled-edged sword of the Vikings is ready to strike those miniature Sons of the Rising Son. We cannot wait for the day," the Dane had said excitedly.

He went on: "This is the tundra. When you bring us to these weather conditions it is to our advantage. See, we are not feeling any cold yet all these fellows are putting on warm clothing."

The temperatures had dipped to minus three degrees in Pretoria when they eliminated Cameroon.

The Danes were, however, not prepared for the Samurai armour. Japan played their hearts out. It was not just a matter of football. It was war. And they did well to apply Sun Tzu’s methods as posited in his book ‘Art of War.’

Japanese live in fear that their opponents would take advantage of their small physique to out-muscle them and they don’t waste time to tell media briefings of their disadvantage.

Defeating the enemy

Against Denmark, Japan took a page off from Tzu’s Art of War that "cleverness has never been associated with long delays" and went ahead in the first quarter.

Tzu says: "The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat and then wanted for an opportunity of defeating the enemy" and "to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself."

The opportunity for Japan availed on 16 minutes for Keisuke Honda when Denmark conceded a free. Honda powered in a sumptuous strike.

As Tzu emphasises that the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself, Denmark did exactly that as they gave away another free-kick for Yasuhito Endo to crack home.

Shinji Okazaki’s 86th minute goal was just to buff a brilliant result for the Blue Samurai, whose sun is rising here in South Africa.