JAKARTA - Cameroon and Serbia must win the second match of Group G considering that a draw or defeat could cost them the 2022 World Cup.
Serbia is at the bottom of the group after losing 0-2 to Brazil's favorites, while Cameroon has surrendered 0-1 to Switzerland. Thus, the African team still hasn't won the World Cup since 2002.
The defeats, which coincided with Brazil and Switzerland, will cross them out of this tournament.
Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o, who was the last player to score a winning goal for his country at the 20th World Cup last year, believes his team reached the final but five games without a win since last September have said the opposite.
Cameroon fielded a young, less experienced team to appear in the World Cup. But they troubled Switzerland in their first game before giving up due to mistakes they made themselves.
"The mistakes (against Switzerland) will not be made again in the next match," Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song said.
On the other hand, Serbia became a skilled trained unit against Brazil's efforts to make a breakthrough during the first half before turning open in the second half due to declining intensity.
"We started the second half with great respect for the Brazilian national team and that cost us a positive result," said Serbian national team director Stevan Stojanovic.
Stojanovic said the change made Serbia lose its identity. This situation must be addressed immediately by Serbia.
However, before getting there, Serbian coach Dragan Stijkovic was faced with the threat of injury to his players, including Aleksandar Mitrovic's top scorer who was not fully fit.
Similar to Stojanovic, Stojkovic also promised changes and an increase in team performance in the next two matches, including in this match against Cameroon.
"You will see a different team (against Cameroon)," Stojkovic said.
Predictions of the first eleven players
Cameroon (4-3-3): Andre Onana; Collins Fai, Nicolas N'Coulou, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nouhou Tolo; Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, pilihan Ondoua, Martin Hongla; Bryan Mbeumo, Erix Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi.
Serbia (3-4-1-2): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic; Nikola Milenkovic, Milos Veljkovic, Strahinja Pavlovic; Andrija Zivkovic, Nemanja Gudelj, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Filipladenovic; Dusan Tadic; Dusan Vlahovic, Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Important statistics of both teams
Both teams have met in friendly matches in 2010. In the only meeting before the meeting at the 2022 World Cup, Serbia defeated Cameroon 4-3.
Cameroon and Serbia are eyeing their first point in the tournament after losing their respective openings to Switzerland and Brazil.
Serbia lost nine of their last 11 World Cup games, while their last win in the tournament came in the 2018 World Cup group stage when they beat Costa Rica 1-0.
Since qualifying for the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, Cameroon has never been able to pass the World Cup final group stage. And since the 2002 World Cup Cameroon has not been able to win World Cup matches.
Serbia have been knocked out since the group stage in their last three appearances at the World Cup, each 2006 edition while still joining Montenegro), then 2010 and the last 2014.
Serbia is eyeing qualify for the knockout round for the first time since 1998 when it was still part of the disbanded fire.
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