Quarter-finals: France – Colombia – Belgium – Costa Rica
Round of 16: Chile – Uruguay – Mexico – Greece – Nigeria – Algeria – Switzerland – USA
A: Croatia – Cameroon B: Spain – Australia C: Ivory Coast – Japan D: Italy – England
E: Ecuador – Honduras F: Bosnia – Iran G: Portugal – Ghana H: Russia – South Korea
CAMEROONWorld Cup progress: Group stage Team rating: 3 Top scorer: Matip (1) |
It’s been a truly abject World Cup for Cameroon amidst lacklustre performances, ill-discipline and on pitch scuffles. Tony Ciriello considers if it could have been any worse.
Lions out with a whimper
It’s been a World Cup to forget for the far from Indomitable Lions as they crashed to heavy defeats and had a breakdown reminiscent to Raymond Domenech’s ill-fated French side in 2010.
This came to the fore in the second game when they were trailing just 1-0 to Croatia and the vastly experienced Alex Song elbowed Mandzukic in an off the ball incident. Then in injury time the similarly experienced Benoit Assou Ekotto headbutted teammate Benjamin Moukandjo. Coach Volker Finke brandished the performance as ‘disgusting’.
Cameroon recovered some dignity with a goal against Brazil, but the problems on and off the pitch had taken their toll.
The Coach – Volker Finke
Whilst many other Coaches were celebrating their team’s goals with wide eyed unbridled ecstasy, Finke cut a dejected, forlorn figure on the touchline. It’s no surprise considering he was witness to a team that, after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico, well and truly capitulated. No discipline and no solid team shape saw his team scythed apart.
Player of the Tournament – Nicolas N’Koulou
It’s difficult to select anyone given that Cameroon scored a solitary goal and conceded nine along the way. In spite of this adversity, Marseille centre back Nicolas N’Koulou kept his head and battled valiantly.
Memorable moment
For all the wrong reasons, Alex Song’s elbow and Benoit Assou Ekotto’s headbutt in their 4-0 defeat to Croatia was a true low for Cameroon.
Results
| 13-Jun-14 | Mexico | 1-0 | Cameroon | Group A |
| 18-Jun-14 | Cameroon | 0-4 | Croatia | Group A |
| 23-Jun-14 | Cameroon | 1-4 | Brazil | Group A |
| Group A | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| Mexico | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| Croatia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Cameroon | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
Squad
| No | Pos | Player | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 16 | GK | Charles Itandje | 3 | – | – |
| 23 | GK | Sammy Ndjock | 0 | – | – |
| 1 | D | Loic Feudjou | 0 | – | – |
| 22 | D | Allan Nyom | 1 | – | 1 |
| 5 | D | Dany Nounkeu | 2 | – | – |
| 4 | D | Cedric Djeugoue | 1 | – | – |
| 14 | D | Aurelien Chedjou | 2 | – | – |
| 3 | D | Nicolas Nkoulou | 3 | – | – |
| 12 | D | Henri Bedimo | 1 | – | – |
| 2 | D | Benoit Assou-Ekotto | 2 | – | – |
| 18 | M | Eyong Enoh | 3 | – | – |
| 11 | M | Jean Makoun | 1 | – | – |
| 21 | M | Joel Matip | 2 | 1 | – |
| 17 | M | Stephane Mbia | 3 | – | – |
| 7 | M | Landry Nguemo | 1 | – | – |
| 6 | M | Alex Song | 2 | – | – |
| 20 | M | Edgar Salli | 2 | – | – |
| 9 | F | Samuel Eto'o | 1 | – | – |
| 13 | F | Eric Choupo Moting | 3 | – | – |
| 10 | F | Vincent Aboubakar | 2 | – | – |
| 8 | F | Benjamin Moukandjo | 3 | – | – |
| 15 | F | Pierre Webo | 3 | – | – |
| 19 | F | Fabrice Olinga | 0 | – | – |
For a complete review of the 2014 World Cup, check out the next issue of Soccer Italia, written by the team at Football Italia and available on worldwide subscription.
