Cameroon v Brazil – Cameroon Collapse Against Hosts

Cameroon are already booked on a plane home and don’t look like they have the capabilities to cause an upset before they depart.

Form
Cameroon’s campaign seemed destined to implode from the offset when the players refused to board the plane to Brazil due to an ongoing dispute over bonus payments. A lacklustre performance against Mexico where they could and should have been beaten by more than the 1-0 scoreline ensued, before the wheels truly came off in a 4-0 defeat to Croatia.

Alex Song’s inexplicable elbow to the back of Mario Mandzukic that resulted in a red card preceded an on-pitch scrap where Benoit Assou-Ekotto tried to headbutt teammate Benjamin Moukandjo.

The Indomitable Lions have yet to score a goal in Brazil, and have rarely even looked like doing so, and have now won only one – against Moldova – of their last five games.

Brazil have also failed to impress so far in the tournament, but only by their own high standards. Four points from two games would be considered more than acceptable for most nations at the World Cup, but for the hosts, who are expected to reach the final as a minimum requirement, there are some real concerns about the way that they have played in those opening two games.

Against Croatia, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men had the referee to thank for coming out on top, then against Mexico in game two they were unable to find a way past an inspired Guillermo Ochoa.

Team News
Alex Song will miss the game through suspension, while Samuel Eto’o is a major doubt having missed the match against Croatia with a knee injury.

Brazil could be without forward Hulk for the second game running after the Zenit St Petersburg player picked up a thigh injury in training. Fred was poor in the game against Mexico and was replaced late on by Jo; Scolari may opt to make the same change to his starting XI this Monday.

Head-to-Head
Cameroon won 1-0 in the most recent meeting at the 2003 Confederations Cup, with Samuel Eto’o getting the only goal of the game. Brazil had, however, won the previous three meetings by an aggregate 7-0 scoreline.

Recommended Bets
Brazil have been well below par in the tournament so far but have the perfect opportunity to kick-start their campaign against a poor, disgruntled Cameroon side that will already be thinking about the flight home. At odds of 1/9 in the Match Odds market there is obviously no desire to back the hosts, but we can get stuck into the Handicap market and back Brazil -2 at odds of 10/11.

Likewise Over 3.5 goals is a good bet at Evens, and the 11/5 about Over 4.5 goals is also worth a small interest as Brazil look for a significant win to allay the public’s disappointment.