Cameroon v Mexico – Expect Goals In This Stand-Off

World Cup first round games are notorious for cagey affairs but I think this one will be different, here’s why…

Form

Mexico’s qualification campaign for this summer’s World Cup was extremely disappointing as they won only two of 10 matches in the final Concacaf qualification group to finish behind both Honduras and Costa Rica.

A 9-3 aggregate win over New Zealand in the play-offs was emphatic, but their can be little taken from beating one of world football’s minnows.

Miguel Herrera’s men need to improve dramatically if they are to qualify for the last 16 and there has been little evidence of this in recent 1-0 losses to Bosnia & Herzegovina and Portugal.

Some encouragement can, however, be taken from 3-0 and 3-1 wins over Israel and Ecuador respectively at the end of.

Cameroon will also see this as a must-win game in their quest to reach the last 16. The Indomitable Lions have won only one game at World Cup finals since their 1990 run to the quarter-finals and arrive here with low expectations.

The Africans impressed in a 2-2 draw with Germany in their penultimate World Cup warm-up match, then concluded preparations with a 1-0 win over Moldova.

Mainz forward Eric Maxim Choupo Moting has scored three goals in his last four international fixtures.

Team News

Oribe Peralta will lead the line for Mexico after scoring 10 goals in his last 10 appearances for El Tri.

Former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela is not in the squad after again refusing to accept a call-up due to an ongoing dispute with the manager and Mexican FA hierarchy.

Cameroon arrived in Brazil 24 hours after they had been scheduled to do so, with the team refusing to board a plane in Yaounde due to a dispute over bonus payments. The issue has now been resolved.

Head-to-Head

The only previous recognised meeting between these two teams came way back in 1993 in Los Angeles. Mexico emerged as 1-0 victors on that occasion.

Recommended Bets

Although a tricky one to call Mexico are the side that appear most likely to come good at some point and are deserved favourites here. 5/4 is approaching a value bet, but the Match Odds market isn’t one to get overly excited about. The Draw is priced at 11/5 and Cameroon are 11/4 chances.

Goals are usually sparse in the early group stage matches, but

with both sides knowing that they really must take all three points we could see quite an attacking outlook from both teams.

Therefore Over 2.5 goals is a standout bet at odds of 13/8. Eric Choupo Moting has been in fine goalscoring form of late and is worth taking a chance on at odds of 10/1 to score first – with Boylesports paying out at double odds if the first goal comes in the opening 20 minutes.