FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 – Cameroon Vs Denmark in a Must Win Clash for Both Sides
The Loftus Versfield stadium in Pretoria tonight will turn into a Roman Amphitheatre when The Indomitable Lions from Cameroon take on Denmark in a must win battle for both the sides.
Roman Amphitheatres used to host Gladiator fights and tonight’s match between two contrasting opponents from two different continents will be nothing short of two gladiators fighting for their lives.
Both the sides lost their opening matches; Danes losing 2-0 to lacklustre Netherlands and the Cameroonians suffered a humiliating shock defeat at the hands of the Blue Samurai. Anything less than a win tonight for wither side will spell doomsday for the side in South Africa.
Both have yet to open their accounts on the point’s board and both will be giving it their all to notch up a much needed win.
Cameroon’s Wold cup campaign is in danger of imploding after Coach Paul Le Guen refused to speak to media at the end of the first match against Japan, and with senior players in the side, questioning his team selection for the match the coach is under immense pressure.
Many of the indomitable lions are unhappy by the promotion of several young players into the senior side at the expense of veteran defenders Rigobert Song, Geremi and Arsenal’s Alexander Song.
The young players cannot withstand the sort of pressure that comes with playing in big tournaments such as the World Cup, Which is why the players are appealing to the coach to review the line-up for Saturday's game, midfielder Achille Emana was quoted as saying.
The Danish outfit are a side but Coach Martin Ollsen will not be too happy about his side’s lack of firepower and profligacy in front of goals. The Danes have never lost to an African side in a world cup encounter and they will be looking forward to maintain their record tonight against the Cameroon. The Danes have not scored in their last three outings and their star attackers Jon Dahm Tomasson and Mikkel Beckmann are injury doubts after having to train alone with personal trainers. Coach Martin Ollsen will be hoping for Nikolas Bendtner to make a swift return from injury, after having gone through 60 minutes of their encounter against Netherlands. Should Bendtner be back to full fitness he will give the Cameroonians a problem or two at the back.
The two sides have met twice previously and never at the world cup, with Cameroonian edging the encounter in 1998, while the Danes returned the favour in 2002 by reversing the score line.
Cameroon have only made it past the first round on one previous occasion in 1990, and a run of 8 winless games doesn’t do their confidence a world of good, with their last win coming against Zambia in the Arica Cup of Nations.
Martin Ollsen’s side have lost all three of their previous matches coming into this match after failing to score in each match.
Only two of Denmark’s 14 previous games have ended in a draw and on both the occasions it was against an African opposition: 1-1 against South Africa and 1-1 against Senegal in 2002.
While things look gloomy for the Danes, one positive from the game will be for Jon Dahl Tommason, who needs only one more goal to become Denmark’s all time leading scorer joining Paul Nielsen.
While Cameroon looked toothless in an attack when the opted to play Samuel Eto out wide, instead of his preferred central striker’s role, Coach Le Guen is set to make amends by handing the forward his preferred position. Arsenal’s Alex Song was also a shock omission from the side that took field against Japan but is likely to make a comeback tonight in place of Joel Matip.
A win is an absolute must for both the sides tonight and with that in mind, the football match in Pretoria tonight promises to be a mouth watering Roman Amphitheatre. Let the games begin!
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