MEXICO vs. CAMEROON
Date: June 13, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Estadio das Dunas, Natal
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 1-0-0 Mexico
Last Match: 1993 Friendly. Mexico def. Cameroon 1-0.
Line: Mexico +110
Group A Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Mexico (20th), Cameroon (56th)
Managers: Miguel Herrera (MEX), Volker Finke (CMR)
Captains: Rafael Marquez (MEX), Samuel Eto'o (CMR)
World Cup Appearances: 15 (MEX), 7 (CMR)
Best Finish: Mexico (2x Quarterfinals, Last in 1986), Cameroon (Quarterfinals, 1990)
Qualifying Records: Mexico (10-3-5, GF: 31, GA: 14), Cameroon (5-1-2, GF: 12, GA: 4)
Pre-Tournament Game Results
Mexico
May 31st - Mexico def. Ecuador 3-1
June 3rd - Bosnia def. Mexico 1-0
June 6th - Portugal def. Mexico 1-0
Cameroon
May 29th - Paraguay def. Cameroon 2-1
June 1st - Cameroon tied Germany 2-2
June 7th - Cameroon def. Moldova 1-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Mexico: N/ACameroon: N/A
Overview
Mexico and Cameroon will open the second day of the World Cup with their first meeting in over 20 years.
Both teams enter this match in huge need of a win with dates against Brazil looming in the future. Croatia's late loss yesterday mitigated the need for a victory somewhat but a loss in this match would surely doom the defeated team in this group.
Mexico enter the game with a retooled midfield after pre-tournament injuries to Luis Montes and Juan Carlos Medina. Their makeshift centre group looked ok in a loss to Portugal but they will need to continue to improve in order for Mexico to handle a large Cameroon midfield. Mexico should employ 5 defenders in this game and is well equipped to stifle the Cameroon attack.
Biggest surprise will be that Javier Hernandez is expected to start the game on the bench with Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta starting up front. Hernandez is one of the key goalscorers for this team and it will be interesting to see how Mexico respond in his absence.
Cameroon will display a more attacking formation but at their own peril. They have struggled at times with their organization on the back end and Mexico is primed to take advantage of that. They appear to be finally healthy on the front end though with Eto'o, Webo, and Aboubakar and will be able to use their size to create problems in the Mexican defensive line.
Personnel
In the Mexican Third: Cameroon uses 3 forwards and has midfield support as well. Mexico switched to a 2-3-5 formation primarily in preparation for their game against Brazil. Cameroon offers a different threat size-wise but Mexico has experience and numbers on their side. Will have issues with set pieces though. Advantage: Even.
In the Midfield: Not sold on either team in the midfield. Both can have sloppy turnovers and love to attack quickly rather then hold the ball up in the midfield. Cameroon have the experience of Song and Makoun who have played together for years, while Mexico are patching together a midfield as they go. Advantage: Cameroon.
In the Cameroonian Third: Even without Hernandez, Mexico could have a field day against Cameroon's back line which has been porous recently. Peralta was 1 off the CONCACAF lead in qualifying goals and is joined by a dynamic second striker in dos Santos. Midfield in flux but will still get enough pressure from the likes of Guardado, Herrera and his wing backs to create problems for Cameroon. Advantage: Mexico.
Goalkeeping: Jose de Jesus Corona has had a solid season so far for club and country while Charles Itandje has only recently become the Cameroon #1 and was hit-and-miss for Konyaspor this year. Advantage: Mexico.
Both teams enter this match in huge need of a win with dates against Brazil looming in the future. Croatia's late loss yesterday mitigated the need for a victory somewhat but a loss in this match would surely doom the defeated team in this group.
Mexico enter the game with a retooled midfield after pre-tournament injuries to Luis Montes and Juan Carlos Medina. Their makeshift centre group looked ok in a loss to Portugal but they will need to continue to improve in order for Mexico to handle a large Cameroon midfield. Mexico should employ 5 defenders in this game and is well equipped to stifle the Cameroon attack.
Biggest surprise will be that Javier Hernandez is expected to start the game on the bench with Giovani dos Santos and Oribe Peralta starting up front. Hernandez is one of the key goalscorers for this team and it will be interesting to see how Mexico respond in his absence.
Cameroon will display a more attacking formation but at their own peril. They have struggled at times with their organization on the back end and Mexico is primed to take advantage of that. They appear to be finally healthy on the front end though with Eto'o, Webo, and Aboubakar and will be able to use their size to create problems in the Mexican defensive line.
Personnel
In the Mexican Third: Cameroon uses 3 forwards and has midfield support as well. Mexico switched to a 2-3-5 formation primarily in preparation for their game against Brazil. Cameroon offers a different threat size-wise but Mexico has experience and numbers on their side. Will have issues with set pieces though. Advantage: Even.
In the Midfield: Not sold on either team in the midfield. Both can have sloppy turnovers and love to attack quickly rather then hold the ball up in the midfield. Cameroon have the experience of Song and Makoun who have played together for years, while Mexico are patching together a midfield as they go. Advantage: Cameroon.
In the Cameroonian Third: Even without Hernandez, Mexico could have a field day against Cameroon's back line which has been porous recently. Peralta was 1 off the CONCACAF lead in qualifying goals and is joined by a dynamic second striker in dos Santos. Midfield in flux but will still get enough pressure from the likes of Guardado, Herrera and his wing backs to create problems for Cameroon. Advantage: Mexico.
Goalkeeping: Jose de Jesus Corona has had a solid season so far for club and country while Charles Itandje has only recently become the Cameroon #1 and was hit-and-miss for Konyaspor this year. Advantage: Mexico.
Mexico will win if:
They can attack quickly on the rush and find open players without holding the ball up. Cameroon can get lost in the defensive end when facing numbers moving at pace. Mexico is excellent on the counter-attack so they should be able to find scoring chances as long as they are accurate with their passing when countering.
Cameroon will win if:
They can make this a physical contest and aggressively close down on the Mexican strikers. Mexico have speed and field awareness that Cameroon lack but Cameroon does have a size advantage in all parts of the field. Mexico is not fit for a bruising contest against a large team and will struggle if they can't get in to a free-flowing game. Corner kicks in particular will afford Cameroon their best opportunities for goals as it allows them to involve their height as much as possible.
Prediction
May take a while for both teams to get in to this game but I would expect Mexico's pace and endurance to trouble Cameroon in the end. A Cameroon goal appears probable off of set pieces and their sheer talent in the front line but I can't see their back line holding up to a full-out Mexican attack.
Mexico 2-1 Cameroon.
May take a while for both teams to get in to this game but I would expect Mexico's pace and endurance to trouble Cameroon in the end. A Cameroon goal appears probable off of set pieces and their sheer talent in the front line but I can't see their back line holding up to a full-out Mexican attack.
Mexico 2-1 Cameroon.
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