International Friendly Preview: Portugal - Cameroon

After a disappointing outing last week, the Seleccao will be aiming for better against the Indomitable Lions...

May 31, 2010 1:00:00 PM

By Robin Bairner

More On :  Cameroon, Portugal, Portugal vs Cameroon
Eto'o (C), Chiellini (I) - Italy-Cameroon (Getty Images)
Kick Off: Tuesday, June 1, 2010. 20:30 CET
Complexo Desportivo da Covilha, Covilha

World Cup Worries

Portugal may boast one of the outstanding players of the present day game in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Seleccao das Quinas have plenty of concerns heading towards the World Cup. Before travelling to South Africa, Carlos Queiroz will want to iron some worries out when his side meet Cameroon on Tuesday.
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The purpose of an encounter against Cape Verde last week was largely to build some confidence ahead of the trip to the southern hemisphere, but the team rated 117 in the FIFA Rankings successfully held their more illustrious hosts to a scoreless draw.

Fans of the Portuguese national side have lamented their team’s recent impotence in front of goal, and again it was on display against the Tubaroes Azuis. For all of the Seleccao’s possession, they posed little threat to the visiting net. Cries of ‘Ole!’ ringing out around the stadium every time the lowly-ranked guests successfully exchanged passes indicated the frustration felt by the hosts.

Queiroz has been aware of his side’s lack of striking prowess for some time. The former Manchester United assistant has approached players such as French-born striker Kevin Gameiro in the hope of persuading them to declared their international future to be a red and green one, but his pre-World Cup search was ultimately fruitless.

If Portugal have been somewhat suspect going forward, they have been rock solid at the back, with a run of seven successive clean sheets helping them to eliminate Bosnia from the World Cup playoffs after a mediocre group campaign saw the Iberians finish second to Denmark and only just ahead of Sweden.

With the ‘Golden Generation’ now fading into the mists of time, there remains much expectation around Portugal, but the team is presently lacking execution.

Aiming To Reproduce Past Success

The World Cup finals arrive in Africa for the first time in less than two weeks, and Cameroon will want to be in pristine condition to excel under the spotlight on soil that will still feel somewhat homely.

Back in 1990, the Indomitable Lions helped bring credibility to African football. Out-of-date stereotypes that still purveyed through the game began to be broken down when they shocked defending champions Argentina at Italia ’90 by recording a 1-0 success in the tournament’s opening match. Ultimately eliminated by England at the quarter-final stage, the side, aided by flamboyant veteran Roger Milla, will live long in the memory.

That performance still rates as Africa’s best at a World Cup finals tournament, and though Cameroon are no longer at the very cutting edge of football on the continent, they will hold hopes of equalling or ideally bettering that record over the coming weeks.

With stars such as Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Kameni in their side, there can be little doubt that Cameroon will make for difficult opponents, but recent results suggest that a mixed bag can be expected from the Indomitable Lions. Eto’o had threatened to depart the squad after public criticism from Milla, leaving his team-mates to battle for a 1-1 draw against Slovakia last week, though a 4-1 victory over Congo in African Cup of Nations qualifying in the spring was somewhat more convincing.

Italy were held 0-0 in Monaco in March, so this is not a side without pedigree. Portugal, be wary.


FORM GUIDE

Portugal

DREW 0-0 (h) Cape Verde (Friendly, May 25)

WON 2-0 (h) China (Friendly, March 3)

WON 1-0 (a) Bosnia and Herzegovina (World Cup playoff, November 18)

WON 1-0 (h) Bosnia and Herzegovina (World Cup playoff, November 14)

WON 4-0 (h) Malta (World Cup qualifying, October 14)

Cameroon

DREW 1-1 (n) Slovakia (Friendly, May 29)

DREW 0-0 (n) Georgia (Friendly, May 25)

WON 3-0 (h) Congo (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, March 27)

DREW 1-1 (a) Congo (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, March 14)

DREW 0-0 (n) Italy (Friendly, March 3)

TEAM NEWS

Portugal

Carlos Queiroz has yet to announce his 23-man squad for the World Cup, but that duty will be taken on Tuesday. He has been boosted by the news that Real Madrid centre-back Pepe has been passed fit for the competition.

Probable Starting XI: Eduardo; Miguel, Carvalho, Alves, Duda; Meireles, Veloso; Simao, Deco, Ronaldo; Liedson

Cameroon

Samuel Eto’o’s threatened walkout appears to have come to naught after a public show of support from the game’s governing body in Cameroon, as well as the decision of coach Paul Le Guen to include the Inter forward in his panel of 23 men chosen to travel to South Africa.

Probable Starting XI: Kameni; Bassong, Mbia, Nkoulou, Asso-Ekotto; A. Song, Makou, Enoh; Eto’o, Emana, Idrissou

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo may have enjoyed an outstanding season for Real Madrid, but he has failed to find the net for his national team during 2009-10. Indeed, the last time ‘CR9’ struck for the Seleccao was a penalty kick against Finland way back in February 2009. He will certainly want to remove this monkey from his back before travelling to South Africa. Rated 2 in the Castrol Rankings, the attacker’s goals-per-game ratio at international level is nowhere near as impressive as his club record, with 22 goals in 70 games for the 25-year-old.

Cameroon

Samuel Eto’o has much to prove going into this encounter after stinging criticism from former international Roger Milla. Undoubtedly the figurehead of the team in terms of standing in the world game, Cameroon cannot afford their captain to be at anything less than 100 per cent both mentally and physically. Approaching 50 international goals, Eto’o is one of the most deadly players in the penalty box on the planet.  

PREDICTION

While Portugal tend to be unspectacular, they also tend to get the job done, and they’ll probably record another narrow success on Tuesday evening. Cameroon will offer dangerous opposition, and the hosts can’t take anything for granted.

Portugal 1-0 Cameroon

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