Both teams come into the World Cup on the back of unimpressive qualifying campaigns. Mexico made it to the playoffs as the United States beat Panama in the last qualifying match and survived a home-and-home playoff against New Zealand. Cameroon also, were only able to qualify because Togo lost points on a technicality. The Indomitable Lions also bickered with their local FA, refusing to board the plane for Brazil until an agreement was reached over bonus payments. All that has been resolved and the team is now in the South American nation. How long they stay before packing their bags on the return flight is another thing entirely. With Brazil being the bookmaker’s favourites to win the group, both teams know that whoever gets all three points stand a chance of beating Croatia to second place and qualification for the last 16.
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TEAM NEWS
Possible Line up Mexico (4-4-2): Talavera; Moreno, Layun, Reyes, Salcido;Vazquez, Herrera, Giovani dos Santos, Guardado; Peralta, Jiminez
Cameroon(4-4-2): Itandje; Assou-Ekotto, Djeugou, Nkoulou, Nyom; Mbia, Song, Matip, Moukandjo, Choupo-Moting; Eto’o
Experienced Mexico defender and captain will be invaluable over the course of the tournament. The veteran has captained his nation in the past four World Cup tournaments. Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez is the country’s third all-time scorer with 35 goals but could well settle on a place on the bench. The ‘Little Pea’ is lacking in match fitness as he found playing time rare under erstwhile United boss David Moyes and has struggled in front of goal lately.
Leading the line for Cameroon is much travelled and vastly experienced striker Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o will look to trouble the Mexico defence with his pace and physicality with help from wingers Choupo-Moting and Moukandjo.
Odds Comparison:
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| Mexico | 2.30 | 2.20 | 2.20 | 2.20 | 2.30 | 2.30 |
| Draw | 3.10 | 3.10 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 3.10 | 3.10 |
| Cameroon | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.55 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.50 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
KEY BATTLE
The key battles of this match will be on the wings as both Mexican wingers are tricky with a nice turn of pace. Left winger Andres Guardado is adept at getting round his marker and sending in accurate crosses for the strikers to feed on. Giovanni dos Santos on the other wing prefers to cut inside his opponent before laying on passes to the striker or an overlapping midfielder. Both players will offer a different kind of challenge to Cameroon full backs Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Allan Nyom.
ONE TO WATCH
Club America forward Oribe Peralta is a player that can cause the Cameroon backline unrest. The 30-year old is a reliable finisher and scored both goals in the finals of the 2012 Olympic football event, the first one after just 29 seconds making it the fastest goal in the history of the competition. Peralta has scored 16 goals in 33 appearances for Mexico.
PREDICTION
Expect the Africans to start strongly but the pace and trickery that Mexico has on the wings combined with their superior finishers in Peralta and Javier Hernandez should eventually carry the day. Mexico manager Miguel Herrera will start with the former while looking to use the latter as an impact sub. Much of Cameroon’s chances rest on the shoulders of team captain Samuel Eto’o. Mexico are aware of this and will look to mark the star striker out of the match.
Mexico 2 – 1 Cameroon – Back the correct score at $9.50 odds + a $200 FREE BET with Bet365