Denmark went close through Tomasson before a Japan free-kick 30 yards from goal brought about one of the goals of the tournament.

BBC: Denmark 1-3 Japan

Jon Dahl Tomasson, who missed several earlier chances, followed up his own penalty to pull one back for Denmark after 81 minutes.

BBC: Denmark 1-3 Japan

In the driving rain, the Danes scored three times inside 25 minutes with goals from Martin Jorgenson, Morten Wieghorst and Jon Dhal Tomasson, and a play-off place was theirs.

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While the Denmark keeper appeared all at sea, his opposite number Eiji Kawashima looked confident and commanding, diving at the feet of Tomasson to smother the striker's effort and pushing aside Jakob Poulsen's long-range shot.

BBC: Denmark 1-3 Japan

Ex-Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson has been in great form and Chelsea goalkeeper Ed De Goey's former understudy, Jerzy Dudek has been named as the most in-form keeper in the world on a Fifa list.

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Tomasson's initial shot was easily saved by Kawashima but the ball rolled straight back to the striker, whose scuffed effort only just found the net to bring up his record-equalling 52nd goal in a Danish shirt.

BBC: Denmark 1-3 Japan