It’s virtually time for the 2022 World Cup. To assist get you prepared, we will probably be offering you with treasured details about each workforce within the match. You’ll be able to learn all of our World Cup previews right here.
Cameroon’s path to the 2022 World Cup may hardly have been extra dramatic. First, the Indomitable Lions had been drawn in a qualifying group with Ivory Coast, a workforce faraway from its glory days at the beginning of final decade however one nonetheless harmful for any opponent. Cameroon was capable of high that group by two factors because of a ultimate matchday victory over the Ivorians in Douala. The facet’s reward was to then play in opposition to Algeria in a two-match playoff for a spot on the World Cup. No straightforward feat given Algeria’s depth of expertise, and it turned out to be the second-most thrilling fixture of African qualifying’s third spherical. (It’s exhausting to beat Senegal-Egypt for drama, however silver right here was nonetheless riveting.)
Algeria received the primary match away from residence, setting the Fennec Foxes as much as maintain serve at residence and advance to the World Cup. Cameroon, nonetheless, didn’t go quietly, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting equalizing the matchup at 1–1 on mixture with a twenty second minute aim. That’s the way it stayed till additional time, when Ahmed Touba took the lead again for Algeria within the 118th minute. It regarded bleak for Cameroon then, however yet one more away aim would give the facet the outright victory.
That’s precisely what occurred within the 124th minute:
Cameroon’s reward for its late heroics in qualifying is to be slotted into 2018’s Group E redux, with the Cameroonians taking Costa Rica’s spot alongside repeat opponents Brazil, Switzerland, and Serbia. On paper, this can be a brutal draw for Cameroon’s dream of a second-place end. Brazil is Brazil, and Cameroon merely may not have sufficient expertise to complete forward of each the Europeans. A final-place exit right here wouldn’t be a shock for anybody, however that doesn’t imply that Cameroon will make it straightforward for the Swiss and Serbs.
That’s as a result of Cameroon performs exhausting and in management. The gamers like to have the ball at their ft, and work in the direction of that aim by urgent like loopy all around the discipline. This technique may be dangerous in opposition to extra proficient sides, although even when Cameroon prefers a low block in Qatar, its gamers received’t really feel misplaced at any time when they do get the ball and switch ahead.
That’s when Cameroon’s finest asset, its assault, ought to come into play. Whereas the midfield is usually unhealthy, with one exception, and the protection isn’t significantly better, the assault boasts three gamers who’ve plied their trades in Europe. Choupo-Moting has crafted one hell of a profession, buying and selling on his capacity to attain key targets and ending up at Paris Saint-Germain and, presently, Bayern Munich. Captain Vincent Aboubakar is now 30 and has traded his European profession for a soft gig in Saudi Arabia, however the stout striker can nonetheless bang in targets. And Karl Toko Ekambi, scorer of the essential qualifying playoff aim, performs a key position at Lyon in France. These are three gamers who received’t wow anybody with their expertise, however they play effectively collectively and may trigger issues for unprepared defenses.
Will that be sufficient to hold Cameroon previous the group stage for less than the second time on the World Cup? In all probability not. There are too many weak spots behind the attacking trio, and the truth of not having the ability to press groups into submission will boring their edge. Nonetheless, of the entire groups broadly predicted to complete final in teams throughout the match, Cameroon is among the finest candidates to steal some extent or two right here and there. Something higher than its final match—when Cameroon went residence with zero factors, one aim scored, and 9 conceded in 2014—would be the naked minimal, and this workforce has sufficient oomph to make that occur.
Who Is Their Principal Man?
Bear in mind the one exception to Cameroon’s midfield frailty? That may be André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Napoli’s do-it-all middle midfielder. Anguissa is a key half of the present Serie A leaders’ flying begin to the marketing campaign, and he has a declare for being the membership’s finest non-attacking participant. Standing six ft tall and weighing 172 kilos, Anguissa is a bully on and off the ball, utilizing his measurement and technical capacity to each dribble opponents—his 1.57 accomplished dribbles per 90 minutes rank him within the high 10 % of high 5 league midfielders—and dispossess them, racking up 2.26 tackles, 1.44 interceptions, and 1.33 aerials received per 90.
All of these stats paint the image of a participant who can slot into any midfield and instantly make it higher. Anguissa isn’t essentially the most inventive midfielder, however he will get ahead typically sufficient to be a goal for brief passing strikes and give-and-gos. This, in flip, opens up the offense for Napoli, drawing defenders away from its goalscorers. Doing this for Cameroon can have the same impact. With Anguissa charging ahead presumably much more for the nationwide workforce, the trio talked about above will discover extra room to work.
When he does get into the opponent’s field, Anguissa just isn’t a passenger in probability creation. Although his aim tallies aren’t otherworldly—he has simply two targets in Serie A play this season, and one within the Champions League—he does join along with his attackers effectively, notching six assists throughout each competitions. In Napoli’s 4–1 demolition of Liverpool again in September, Anguissa linked with Piotr Zielinski for his facet’s second, a ravishing give-and-go that left Liverpool’s protection wanting prefer it forgot play soccer:
If he can join on just a few of these strikes for Cameroon, then the duty will get a lot harder for opponents making an attempt to maintain monitor of a midfielder with no actual weaknesses.
Who Is Their Principal Scoring Man?
As talked about above, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has had a wild profession. He began in his native Germany, enjoying for Hamburg, Nuremberg, Mainz, and Schalke from 2007 to 2017. He didn’t notably impress at any of these stops earlier than shifting over to Stoke Metropolis in 2017. He was equally not nice there: 5 targets in 30 video games, and a relegation as well.
Logically, his subsequent cease was at Paris Saint-Germain. There, he crammed his backup position with stunning aplomb. Choupo-Moting’s most notable second with the Parisians got here within the Champions League, the place in 2020 he saved PSG’s ass by scoring a 93rd-minute winner that despatched his workforce previous Atalanta and into the semifinals:
Choupo-Moting subsequent pivoted from PSG to Bayern Munich in the summertime of 2020, the place he nonetheless performs immediately. There, he has been even higher as a backup than he was at PSG, and this 12 months he’s arguably labored his method into the workforce’s splendid beginning lineup. In 10 Bundesliga matches, solely six of them begins, the Cameroonian has six targets and two assists. His late-career bloom has been merely outstanding.
All of that is what Choupo-Moting brings to Cameroon. He’s not the perfect with the ball at his ft, however his motion is clever, and he retains his cool in entrance of aim. The Cameroonians received’t get too many probabilities to attain on the World Cup, however Choupo-Moting ought to be capable of capitalize once they do.
The place’s The Beef?
Which groups or gamers does Cameroon not like? Do Cameroon’s gamers like one another? We examine their potential enemies.
Samuel Eto’o is essentially the most adorned Cameroonian soccer participant of all time, successful 4 Champions League titles, 4 league titles throughout Spain and Italy, and an Olympic gold medal with the nationwide workforce in 2000. He’s additionally the present president of the Cameroonian soccer federation, and that is the place the meat is cooking for Cameroon.
Eto’o is an outspoken president, vulnerable to grandiose statements that put undue strain on the gamers. Simply final week, he stated in a press release that Cameroon will win your complete World Cup in an all-African ultimate in opposition to Morocco. Alongside the best way, Cameroon will defeat Belgium and fellow African semifinalists Senegal earlier than taking up the Atlas Lions within the largest match.
Eto’o’s, um, optimism is much less regarding than what he’s needed to say about his nation’s personal gamers, although. Significantly, there have been studies that he’s been identified to tear into Anguissa for a perceived lack of curiosity within the nationwide workforce in comparison with his membership profession. Earlier than the squad was chosen for the World Cup, there was buzz that Eto’o would push the workforce to go away the Napoli star off the roster completely. Anguissa will actually be in Qatar, however the participant had harsh phrases for Eto’o after the president criticized Cameroon’s efficiency after a decent 1-0 win over Burundi in AFCON qualifying again in June, saying that it was unhelpful for Eto’o to heap a lot pointless strain on the facet.
Eto’o’s ire just isn’t restricted to Anguissa. He additionally slammed Cameroon supervisor Rigobert Music after that Burundi match, and his continued grudge in opposition to Liverpool middle again Joël Matip has stored the stellar defender out of the squad. Whether or not Eto’o’s phrases and actions will probably be a distraction or a rallying cry for the workforce stays to be seen, however he’s playing rather a lot by inserting himself into the story, and it may backfire spectacularly.
Most Seemingly To Go David Ospina Or James Rodríguez Mode
Who’s Cameroon’s finest candidate for a breakout efficiency that earns them a career-changing switch? May this potential post-tournament switch go effectively, like when Colombia’s James Rodríguez went to Actual Madrid after starring within the 2014 World Cup? Or may it go poorly, like when Colombia’s David Ospina went to Arsenal after starring within the 2014 World Cup?
Whereas at Ajax, André Onana was pegged as the subsequent nice goalkeeper in European soccer. He began his youth profession at Barcelona, after arising via the Samuel Eto’o Academy. In quest of a clearer path to the sector, Onana made the transfer to the Netherlands in 2015 and rapidly solidified himself because the No. 1 of the long run for the Dutch giants. He principally lived as much as that when he was promoted to the senior workforce, however a February 2021 suspension for utilizing a banned substance left his profession within the steadiness. The ban was initially for a 12 months, however was later diminished to 9 months. Both method, it signaled the tip of his profession at Ajax; he left the membership in the summertime of 2022 for Inter Milan in Serie A.
Onana remains to be younger; 26 is child age for goalkeepers, who recurrently play into their late 30s. However he’s now on the stage the place he’ll want to start out changing his potential into actual performances. His transfer to Inter has been effective—under no circumstances unhealthy, however not what you’d’ve imagined from the expectations of some years in the past. If he had been to have a stellar World Cup, a transfer to a much bigger facet, whether or not in Spain or in England, may very well be on the playing cards. The query then is whether or not he nonetheless has the flexibility to lock down a aim for a high workforce, in opposition to high competitors. The reply to that may determine whether or not he’s nonetheless on monitor to be a star, or if he’s simply one other promising teenager whose profession turned out simply effective, if unspectacular.
David Ospina Mode Likelihood Rating: 30.1
James Rodriguez Mode Likelihood Rating: 37.9
Enjoyable Geographical Reality
Cameroon is usually referred to as “Africa in miniature,” because of its broad range of terrain and local weather. It comprises a lot of the continent’s biospheres, from desert to rain forests to the savanna.
Good Flag Or Unhealthy Flag?
Any nation that makes use of the pan-African colours of pink, inexperienced, and yellow is at a definite benefit in relation to the all-important “cool flag quotient.” Cameroon isn’t any exception, and the star within the center, which represents “unity,” is a pleasant contact to distinguish it from different flags on the continent. This, to me, is a greater model of Senegal’s already wonderful flag.
Good Anthem Or Unhealthy Anthem?
That overture at the beginning instantly places this within the high tier of World Cup anthems. It’s jaunty all through, too, which retains it from rising stale. It is a nice anthem.
Notable Second In World Cup Historical past
What the Indomitable Lions did in Italy in the summertime of 1990 summer season is among the many World Cup’s perfect tales. Drawn into a bunch with Argentina, Romania, and the Soviet Union (in its final match ever), Cameroon was predicted to complete fourth and bow out early.
As a substitute, the facet beat Argentina in a stunning opening match, taking the lead within the 67th minute and hanging on for a 1–0 victory. It adopted that up with two targets from Roger Milla in opposition to Romania to punch a ticket within the knockout spherical with a sport remaining. A 4–0 loss to the Soviet Union within the ultimate match didn’t matter a lot, and Cameroon grew to become the second African workforce in historical past—after Morocco in 1986—to advance previous the group stage.
There, the facet confronted a great Colombia facet for a quarterfinal spot in a sport that ended 0–0 after 90 minutes. In additional time, Milla was at it once more—you may argue that Eto’o is the perfect Cameroonian participant of all time primarily based on expertise, nevertheless it’s exhausting to high the legacy of Milla on the 1990 World Cup—scoring twice in two minutes to provide Cameroon what would ultimately be a 2–1 victory and a spot in historical past as the primary African nation to win a knockout spherical sport.
The dream would finish within the quarters in opposition to England, however Cameroon didn’t exit whimpering there, both. Although Cameroon misplaced 3–2, it pushed the English to additional time, and even held the lead in common time after Eugène Ekéké’s Sixty fifth-minute aim. Sadly, two Gary Lineker penalties, one within the 83rd and one in additional time, sunk the Lions for good, however to this present day, it is among the most spectacular showings by an African workforce on the World Cup, and the one time that Cameroon has made it out of the group stage.
How Can They Win The World Cup?
Cameroon merely has to take heed to and obey Eto’o’s prediction and it’ll win the World Cup. No sweat.
