Cameroon
Rank: 50 World Cup appearances: Best result: TOP SCORERS (QUALIFYING) Jean Makoun, Eric Maxim Did you know? Cameroon was the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in a World Cup. They did so during Italy where they were defeated in extra time by the English. |
Cameroon return to the World Cup finals for the seventh time with one of the world's most successful players in their ranks, but their prospects of progress past the first round look slim with group matches against hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico.
Their 2014 squad has little of the charisma of previous teams that won worldwide affection with their dogged style and colourful kit.
Cameroon won only half of the eight games they needed to qualify for Brazil, benefiting along the way from group rivals Togo using an ineligible player in a match in which they beat Cameroon but then had the points reversed.
Their German coach Volker Finke remains under a constant barrage of criticism despite adding some obvious structure to the side. Among his fiercest critics is former World Cup hero Roger Milla who feels a local coach should be in charge.
Captain Samuel Eto'o will compete in a fourth World Cup as captain of a team he has been accused of dividing.
Their 2010 finals appearance, where they lost all three group games, was beset with personality problems, notably between Eto'o and Alexandre Song.
Song did not play for Cameroon for some 18 months after the World Cup because of the bust-up, but Finke has suggested much of the antagonism has since been put to bed.
They head to Brazil with a tough task ahead of them and although many of their players have experience at the highest level in the major European leagues, success in South America looks a step too far.
STRENGTH
Brawn
Cameroon are a physically dominant side, boasting immense fitness and a strong work ethic throughout. Defensively, they are extremely strong, blessed with a number of top-tier centre-backs and central midfielders.
WEAKNESS
The attack
As a result, they lack ideas in attack, although the emergence of Benjamin Moukandjo and return to form of Benoit Assou-Ekotto have helped in this regard.
ONE TO WATCH
Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o has proved his doubters wrong by outshining Chelsea's other strikers this season.
According to his boss Jose Mourinho, he did not have much competition, but it will be tougher for the 33-year-old to leave his mark when he captains Cameroon at his fourth and probably last World Cup in Brazil.
The problems lie not just with the other teams. Eto'o accused fellow players in the national side of not passing him the ball last year, adding to friction in the squad which has struggled to live up to the glory days.
The tournament gives Eto'o a chance to cement his status as possibly Africa's greatest ever player. He has scored 55 goals in 112 games for his country since making his international debut as a 16-year-old.
Little Milla has shown his predatory instincts remain strong, snatching several opportunist goals for Chelsea, closing down goalkeepers and defenders and hoping for a lucky break. He destroyed Manchester United with a hat-trick in January and scored vital goals against title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal.
As he approaches the end of his playing career, Eto'o has plans for life off the pitch. Some supporters think he may be planning a political career, something he could probably afford to bankroll after playing for some of Europe's richest clubs.
Coach: Volker Finke
Volker Finke was one of the first Bundesliga coaches to use African players on a regular basis in his Freiburg team and now, in the twilight of his career, he finds himself World Cup-bound with Cameroon.
The 66-year-old was appointed coach last June and the team have won just two of seven matches.
Finke, who did not have a professional playing career, worked at Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan in 2009-10, and was later technical director and, briefly, interim coach at Cologne before accepting the assignment in Cameroon.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Loic Feudjou (Coton Sport), Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Sammy Ndjock (Fethiyespor)
Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Henri Bedimo (Olympique Lyon), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Cedric Djeugou (Coton Sport), Nicolas Nkoulou (Olympique Marseille), Dany Nounkeu (Besiktas), Allan Nyom (Granada)
Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Stade Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Stephane Mbia (Sevilla), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Landry Nguemo (Girondins Bordeaux), Edgar Salli (Racing Lens), Alexandre Song (Barcelona)
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Mainz), Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea), Fabrice Olinga (Malaga), Achille Webo (Fenerbahce)
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