World Cup preview: Cameroon

The Road To The World Cup

Cameroon enjoyed a relatively smooth qualifying process, losing only once in the group stage. They drew Tunisia in their play-in game and coasted to 4-1 win on aggregate thanks to two goals from Jean Makoun.

Group Stage Schedule

Formation: 4-3-3

Volker Finke prefers to adapt to the circumstances in front of him. With that in mind, it’s not surprising to see the veteran German coach switch between the 4-3-3 and the 4-2-3-1 depending on the context of the game.

What Finke does stress, however, is attacking, free flowing football. He prefers to build through the middle, rather than using his fullbacks to push play up the wings. Small triangle passing enthusiasts will like what they see from Cameroon.

Manager: Volker Finke

Finke loves to tout the team, and not the individual. “I don’t want team leaders. That’s a line of thinking that buries other players’ strengths. Our playing system does not depend on the individual,” he has said. Some say this was a shot at captain Samuel Eto’o, who dealt with injury and commitment issues during Cameroon’s qualifying campaign. Either way, Finke will need Eto’o to be at his best if the Indomitable Lions want to advance past the group stage.

Finke is known as the godfather of ‘pressing’ football in Germany, where he employed the tactic with Freiburg. Managers like Low, Klopp and Rangnick have been inspired by his systems. Simply put, Finke is a coaching legend.

Starting XI

GK: Charles Itandje

DF: Henri Bedimo

DF: Joel Matip

DF: Cedric Djegou

DF: Nicolas N'Koulou

MF: Enoh Eyong

MF: Alex Song

MF: Stephane M'bia

FW: Samuel Eto'o

FW: Benjamin Moukandjo

FW:  Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting

Projected Substitutes

GK: Loic Fuedjou

GK: Sammy N’Djock

DF: Benoit Assou-Ekotto

DF:  Aurelien Chedjou 

DF: Dany Nounkeu

DF: Allan Nyom

MF: Landry N’Guemo

MF: Jean Makoun

MF: Edgar Salli 

FW: Vincent Aboubakar 

FW: Fabrice

FW: Pierre Webo

The Captain: Samuel Eto’o

He’s not your prototypical captain considering Eto’o accused his teammates of concocting a plot not to pass to him during Cameroon’s World Cup qualifier versus Tunisia, but he’s their best player. In the end that will mean the most, though the volatile striker is a walking distraction considering his antics in recent months, including his faux retirement from international football in September, along with repeated run-ins with Finke. If Eto’o can stay focused, Cameroon will have a shot. If not, well, you know how this will go.

The Star: Alex Song

The former Arsenal man found himself stuck to the Barcelona bench on most match days this season. The midfielder isn’t interested in a move back to Arsenal, however. “I was very happy to be at Arsenal, I spent seven years there,” Song said in an interview. “But at the moment I’m not looking that way. I am very happy here. I have four years left on my contact.” Yes, it’s pretty cryptic and nondescript, but we’ll take him at his word. Will a lack of playing time for Barcelona hinder his performance in Brazil?

The Young Gun: Fabrice

At only 17-years-old, Fabrice Olinga is the future of Cameroonian soccer. He’s got the pedigree to match the top billing. At the age of 16, he became La Liga’s youngest ever goalscorer, scoring the game’s only goal in Malaga’s 1-0 win over Celta de Vigo. He’s made only seven appearances for the national team and already has a goal. Fabrice will likely be a sightseer in Brazil, but like Theo Walcott in 2004, there will be much to soak in.

The Swan Song: Pierre Webo

While Eto’o is unstable, Webo is the rock for Cameroon. The 31-year-old has 18 goals in 54 appearances for The Indomitable Lions. His strike rate for Fenerbahce is even better. Webo recorded 16 goals in 26 games for the Turkish giants, and will be counted on to do the same for his country in Brazil. The 2014 World Cup will likely be Webo’s final major international tournament for Cameroon. Let’s hope he makes it count.

Three Questions

1. Will Eto’o act like an actual captain and be there for Finke when adversity strikes? 
2. Does Eto’o truly believe his teammates have been sandbagging him?
3. Can Song shake off the rust that comes with a lack of playing time?

Trivial Matters

Nicknames: The Indomitable Lions

Most caps: Rigobert Song (137)

Top scorer: Samuel Eto’o (56)

First international: September 1956, Belgian Congo 3-2 French Cameroon

World Cup appearances: 7

Best World Cup result: Quarterfinal (1990)

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