Preview: Japan – Cameroon

(GSM) – With some figuring their eyes on second place behind runaway Group E favorites Netherlands, Japan and Cameroon square off on Monday in Bloemfontein at Free State Stadium.

After failing to qualify for the 2006 finals, Cameroon stormed back to ensure a berth in this year’s edition of the competition, and they will be buoyed by playing on their home continent in front of what rates to be a pro-Cameroon crowd.

Cameroon come into the game with controversy in the squad surrounding star striker Samuel Eto’o and his response to comments made by Roger Milla.

Despite great success in history and some great players in the team, the Indomitable Lions’ ability to keep their opponents out of the net has been in question as of late.

On 5 June, Cameroon scored three but allowed four in a 4-3 friendly defeat at the hands of Serbia, and they were 3-1 losers to Portugal on 1 June. They were held to unconvincing draws by Georgia and Slovakia in May.

Japan, meanwhile, are also in poor form entering the tournament – the Asians’ fourth consecutive appearance in the finals.

Riding the experience of a small army of veteran players – one of the criticisms of the team – Japan lost all three of their friendlies in the buildup to the tournament while scoring just one goal.

For Japan manager Takeshi Okada, he will be relying on superstars Makoto Hasebe and Keisuke Honda to control matters in the midfield, but there are many questions as to who will start up front in what has been an anemic Japanese attack.

Cameroon, meanwhile, will be giving the bench to normal number one keeper Carlos Kameni in place of Hamidou Souleymanou. Kameni has been in dreadful form since joining Cameroon after a long season in Spain.

The rest of the squad is fit, though Paul Le Guen might yet have some surprises in store when his team is announced on Monday.