All On The Line For Australia And Cameroon At The Confederations Cup

The Socceroos or the Indomitable Lions’ Confederations Cup campaigns are about to end.

The two countries meet tonight at St Petersburg Stadium with each gunning for victory. After losses in their opening games – to Germany for Australia, and to Chile for Cameroon – the equation is simple. Lose again and you’re out. A draw would be more of a slow death for both sides, as they would need victories in their final Group game and then have to rely on other results.

With world champions Germany and South America’s top team Chile in it Group B was always going to be “the Group of Death”. It is long odds for either Australia or Cameroon to make it to the next stage. Both came into the tournament with ordinary form – Cameroon losing two of their past three games, and the Socceroos spanked by Brazil and only edging Saudi Arabia.

On their first showings, neither will be favourites to beat La Roja or Die Mannschaft in their third group game. So this match becomes even more important.
Cameroon were dominated by Chile, especially in the early stages. Chile’s slick passing and quick runs off the ball opened up the African’s team defence repeatedly. At times they were all at sea and lucky they didn’t concede more in the 2-0 loss. They were also assisted by the use of the video referee (VAR). Cameroon coach Hugo Broos knows his side to needs a better opening.

“I hope we start the game better than we did against Chile,” he said.

“The first 20 minutes were almost disastrous and if we didn’t have a bit of luck on our side, we could have been 3-0 down. I hope against Australia that from the first second of the game we will seek to dominate.

“I’ve seen a few games of Australia and there is a lot of enthusiasm in the team, a fighting spirit, so it’s a very difficult team to play against. But again we’ll need to be on our highest level if we are to beat them, and we have to beat them to keep up our chances to go further than the first round.”

Australia were outclassed by Germany in Sochi, going down 3-2. That scoreline largely flattered them as the 2014 World Cup winners ran rings around the Socceroos in the first half. Australia improved greatly in the second half but was helped by poor Germany finishing and some dire goalkeeping. Bernd Leno was at fault badly for the two Aussie goals. He certainly had a night to forget.

Australian coach Ange Postecoglou remained upbeat despite the defeat. He brushed off suggestions Cameroon would be an easier game for his side to win, compared to matches against Germany and Chile.

“I don't see any game as more winnable,” Postecoglou said.

"If you start thinking in those terms you might miss an opportunity along the way. We’re aware of what they can bring. They showed against a very good Chile side they can be dangerous, particularly in transition. They’re here for a reason. I don't think [the Cameroon match] is going to be any easier than the first one or the third one,’ he said.

Cameroon may look to play on the counter and hurt Australia in transition. The pace and skill of attacking trio Vincent Aboubakar, Benjamin Moukandjo and Christian Bassogog will be dangerous. The Socceroo’s three-man defence has been leaky, coughing up nine goals in the past three games. They will need to tighten up at the back and hope to use the likes of Tom Rogic and Robbie Kruse to create up front.

Neither the Socceroos or the Indomitable Lions have qualified yet for the 2018 World Cup. Both won’t want to end their Russia adventure now. The pressure is on.