Match report: Cameroon 1 - 2 Denmark

Samuel Eto’o may be minded to ask, as he examines the ruins of Cameroon’s World Cup campaign, not what he can do for his country, but what his country can do for him.

The Internazionale striker, a totemic figure in his homeland, entered this tournament under a cloud of criticism from Roger Milla, the man who first brought Cameroon to the world‘s awareness.

Eto’o had never produced for his country, told his childhood hero. His heart was not with his homeland, with his clubs.

He bubbled and bristled, a twisting spring of perpetual energy. That Cameroon is now eliminated is despite him, not because of him. In Pretoria, Eto’o’s country let him down by the outstanding wastefulness of his strike partner Pierre Webo, who spurned four, five chances, as well as one which sailed off into the night sky, possibly never to come back.

Such a player deserves more dependable company. He deserves a steadier supplier, too, than Achille Emana, a symbol of unpredictability.

And he deserves an improved defence than the one which was picked apart skillfully on the counter attack by Denmark.

After Eto’o had struck, Emana laying the ball into his path after Christian Poulsen needlessly ceded possession on the perimeter of his own box, Cameroon should have eased residence.

Instead, Kjaer produced the get ahead of the tournament, deceitful, raking 50-yard ball straight to Dennis Rommedahl’s toe. The former Charlton winger slid into the path of the Danes and Nicklas Bendtner were level.

It nearly did not last, Eto’o striking the post just moments after Alex Song had produced a wonderful block to deny Jon-Dahl Tomasson as what may have looked not stimulating encounter turned into a smash hit.

That was not a happy ending for Eto’o, or Cameroon. Denmark broke again, Rommedahl distortion past Benoit Assou-Ekotto and firing low into the far corner.

There was no way back. Jean Makoun fired wide, Mohamadou Idrissou twice headed over, but Denmark stood firm.

At least, Eto’o can comfort himself; it was not for the lack of frustrating.

Match preview: Italy v New Zealand

Group F
Italy v New Zealand
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Italy has been the victims of sensations in World Cups past, to South Korea in 2002 and losing to North Korea in 1966, they face another game that, in theory, and they can’t lose.

Daniele De Rossi said “There are teams that we should beat, we're better”. perhaps, but self-confidence is hardy high-ceilinged in the world champions’ camp after opening their defence with a 1-1 draw against Paraguay and they will evoke that the vigorous All White triers, who earned a last minute equalizer against Slovakia, have already run the Azzurri close, losing 4-3 in a friendly last June.

Italy have lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, with Federico Marchetti coming in as deputy, and Mauro Camoranesi possibly will be introduced with Marcello Lippi tipped to sideline Claudio Marchisio.

New Zealand’s Plymouth striker Rory Fallon has promised Italy simply an assessment in aerial bombardment and muscular physicality, warning: "We're a big, strong team and those diagonal balls and crosses can make it hard for defenders.”

Italy possibly will employ the more efficient 4-4-2 formation which Lippi switched to, from 4-2-3-1, during the Paraguay game.

They said

Marcello Lippi: "What would happen if we lost? I am not thinking about that. I think only about winning."

Ricki Herbert: “Nobody expects us to beat Italy but then nobody expected us to draw against Slovakia. We're in a good space; the players are really constructive, I think we'll go out and play well again."

Teams

Italy (4-4-2): 4 Chiellini, 3 Criscito, 22 Montolivo, 11 Gilardino, 12 Marchetti, 7 Pepe, 10 Di Natale, 19 Zambrotta, 9 Camoranesi, 6 De Rossi, 5 Cannavaro,

New Zealand (4-3-2-1): 11 Bertos, 6 Nelsen, 5 Vicelich, 3 Lockhead, 10 Killen, 9 Smeltz, 19 Smith, 1 Paston, 4 Reid, 7 Elliott, 14 Fallon.

Referee: Carlos Buates (Guatemala)

Match preview: Brazil vs Ivory Coast

Group G
Brazil vs Ivory Coast
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

Didier Drogba is set to start for the Ivory Coast after 15 days undergoing surgery on a broken arm and that would be a huge advance for a side that has already taken a point off Portugal. Drogba made a differentiation when he came on late in the 0-0 draw and Brazil, having been stretched out by North Korea, will be conscious of his threat in this most changeable of World Cups.
Brazil could keep belief with the side that won 2-1 against North Korea in advance of the final game, against Portugal.

Dunga vs Sven Goran Eriksson: A conflict of styles, both in dress sense and tactics.
The Brazilian leaves behind his fisherman’s jumper and black overcoat, because Eriksson just looks fashionable, whoever he coaches.
Erikson reached the quarter-finals with England; this time his task is superior but he will have the self-confidence to out-think Dunga.
Brazil has scored in 23 consecutive group matches at the World Cup and will wish for to keep that record.
The Ivory Coast improved significantly when Didier Drogba came on against Portugal but, at the other end, Boubacar Barry, Ivory Coast’s agile goalkeeper, can be expecting a busy 90 minutes.

Julio Cesar vs Didier Drogba: In Julio Cesar, Brazil boasts the most excellent goalkeeper at the finals, though North Korea proved he is not unconquerable.
Drogba was on firer for Chelsea and his country before breaking his arm.
But he proved he has improved with a late cameo role against Portugal and, on his side, he is able score against any goalkeeper in the world.

They said
Dunga: "I believe the first match is always trying, there was a lot of anxiety and nervousness out there. We all want to score and not give up any goals. I am not completely happy with the result; we weren't passing as quickly as I would have loved. But the spirits of these players are willing to learn and are strong."
Sven-Goran Eriksson: "It is going to be a hard game, but looking at what we did against Portugal, we are proficient of creating a surprise against Brazil."

Teams
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Julio Cesar; Juan, Michel Bastos, Maicon, Lucio; Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva; Kaka, Robinho, Elano; Luis Fabiano.

Ivory Coast (4-1-2-3): Barry; Zokora, Tiene, Demel, K Toure; Y Toure; Tiote, Eboue; Drogba, Kalou, Gervinho.

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France).

Match Preview: Slovakia vs Paraguay

Group F
Slovakia v Paraguay
Stadium: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Something has to give with Slovakia and Paraguay given the chance to top the group before Italy face New Zealand, because first two games in Group F have ended in 1-1 draws.
That Paraguay detained the champions will give great power to La Albirroja who may consider using Roque Santa Cruz from the beginning.
Vladimír Weiss v Gerardo Martino: Weiss (45) is the youngest coach at the World Cup but was enraged that his side permitted the minnows of New Zealand to take a point.
Now he must give confidence his players against a brilliant Paraguay and their Argentine leader. He inspired his players to make a draw against Italy.

Robert Vittek v Justo Villar: Vittek scored Slovakia's first ever goal at a World Cup finals, against New Zealand, and will be single-minded to help progress on the performance against the All Whites. But to do so he should get past Justo Villar, the most experienced 32 year-old goalkeeper.

They said
Weiss: "The fact that we came so close to winning against New Zealand is extremely encouraging. But we’ll have to do our level best to avoid the same thing from happening again."
Martino: "I don't think we need to win our next two games. Draws might be adequate to progress. However, this does not mean that we’ll be going out to get draws in our next two games."

Teams
Slovakia (4-4-2): Mucha; Durica, Cech, Zabavnik, Skrtel; Weiss, Hamsik, Strba, Jendrisek; Sestak, Vittek
Paraguay (4-1-3-2): Villar; Bonet, Morel, Alcaraz, Da Silva; V Cacares; Torres, Vera, Riveros; Haedo, Valdez, Barrios

Referee: TBC.