World Cup 2022: Passion Play from Two Different Continents

Brazil vs Cameroon

Now here are two nations with true World Cup 2022 pedigree.

Record five-time world champions Brazil need no introduction and remain the international side which has so often acted as the benchmark for their counterparts past and present.

And then there is the nation I consider the biggest underdogs of all time and whose history is etched in some of the World Cup’s greatest highlights.

For me personally, there have never been more exciting minnows than the Cameroon side which took many by surprise in 1982 and then wowed the world eight years later as they went on to reach the quarter-finals.

How fitting that the final night of group matches at this World Cup is between two countries who have fondly etched their place in tournament folklore.

Talking Points

Of course, in theory, Brazil should always win this fixture and, having already qualified from Group G, may use this as an opportunity to give some squad men potentially important match time.

They booked their place on Monday when they finally broke the resistance of Switzerland and their impressive goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

With a glittering array of attacking talent in their ranks, the identity of the goalscorer perhaps surprised many, although it came from a player who is just as crucial to the South American’s chances of a first world title in 20 years.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro was the hero as he rounded off a flowing move with a first-time volley which took a slight nick off Manuel Akanji and flew into the net.

It showed the other side to his game and, in the words of former midfielder Gilberto Silva, a winner with Brazil in 2002, Casemiro’s intelligence holds the key to their success in Qatar – a player who maintains his discipline, holds his territory and has a willingness to quietly do the team’s dirty work.

He may be one of those rested against a Cameroon team which has been mirrored in some controversy in recent days with the expulsion of the Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana.

Boss Rigobert Song suggested that discarding the goalkeeper had concentrated minds and galvanised his squad, providing the impetus for a comeback that ended a run of eight straight defeats at World Cups.

The result, inevitably, was a match of high chaos. But what chaos as they fought back from 3-1 down to draw with Serbia.

Substitute Vincent Aboubakar was pivotal in their comeback, beating the offside trap to pull a goal back in stunning fashion with a scooped lob before setting up the equaliser three minutes later. He will surely start on Friday night in hopes of providing more World Cup 2022 highlights.

All that means is that the Indomitable Lions need to win and hope other results go their way if they are to reach the last 16.

This a side which qualified for Qatar in a more dramatic fashion than any other nation, as far as I am concerned, and has since gone on to provide some heartwarming moments in Qatar.

This, however, should be a match too far, even against a Brazilian side without the country’s poster boy Neymar, Alex Sandro, ruled out after undergoing a scan regarding the hip issue that forced him off against Switzerland, and Danilo.

History

All their six meetings have been since 1994 and Brazil have won five of them.

The most recent was a friendly in London four years ago when Richarlison netted the only goal.

They previously met in the group stage in the 2014 tournament in which the hosts, playing their 100^th World Cup match, ran out 4-1 winners, thanks to Neymar (two), Fred and Fernandinho.

This was after Joel Matip had briefly drawn Cameroon level.

Their very first clash also came in the World Cup in 1994, a year the South Americans were crowned world champions, when Romario, Marcio Santos and Bebeto were the scorers in a 3-0 success.

Cameroon’s sole triumph came in a group game in the 2003 Confederations Cup when Samuel Eto’o netted the only goal in Paris.

Betting Tip

It’s Brazil every which way you look as far the SBOTOP World Cup 2022 betting odds are concerned.

The Selecao can be backed 1X2 @ 1.25 and Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.36, while Cameroon are priced 1X2 @ 10.00 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 2.47.

The draw is available @ 5.80.

I do think there will be goals in this one and among the options to have caught my eye are over 3.25 @ 2.36, total goal 2-3 @ 2.04 and 4-6 @ 2.77.

Brazil may rest key men with qualification (and likely top spot) guaranteed but I still think they will have too much.

My two-star prediction is for a half-time draw and a Brazil win.

 

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