8 Nations Challenge [Brazil vs Cameroon]

26th May - Kenya vs Japan 2pm   /   Brazil vs Cameroon 4pm

Footiecall only sent 1 representative to cover today's games, but he unfortunately missed the first game since he was at the Spur for lunch. He did, however, manage to walk in to the Kenya / Japan press conference and ask questions without even watching the game.

The Japanese manager speaks Japanese. Although we found this impressive, we weren't so impressed that they had done no research on either of the African teams in their group (Kenya & Cameroon).

Kenya have played a few friendlies & trained for a month together, which is more than the Japanese, but still  this did not help them as they lost 3-0 to the economically strong Asian nation.

BRAZIL vs. CAMEROON

The game started off at a slow pace with Brazil easily knocking the ball around at the back before launching searching balls to all sides of the pitch. A structured back-line with 3 deep midfielders and 3 loose forwards. Cameroon employed 2 giants at the back with a 3rd giant in the centre. Similar to South Africa, Cameroon rely mainly on the individual ability of some skilful wingers & forwards. Similar to Ghana, Cameroon use their physical strength to dominate the close or man-to-man plays.

Brazil took the lead after a defensive error coming from 2 of the 3 giants, who sandwiched a Brazilian forward, but failed to get the ball which kept rolling to the edge of the box. A simple FIFA "finesse finish" saw Brazilian #10 - Thomas Santos score.

The game then became overrun with, what appeared to be, consistent diving from the Brazilians. The constant stop-starts slowed the game down & by the time one of the Brazilians got a yellow card for diving, the football had almost taken a back seat. 

Brazil received 2 red cards; 1 for an off the ball incident which saw #5 Conde knock a player off his feet with an aggressive barge. The 2nd was a quite impressive attempt at Maradona's "hand of God" when #16 Deretti punched the ball over the Cameroon keeper & tapped in afterwards.

A grey interpreter, captain Joao Felipe & head coach Eder Bastos

Stand-out players from Cameroon: their giant centre mid #20 - Carlain Mbah. Power in the middle!!

Stand-out players from Brazil: Right-back #2 Fabio Tavares was excellent! In defense & attack. The man of the match for me was their captain & centre mid, #8 Joao Felipe.

We'll keep our eyes on these players in order to produce a Player of the Tournament & Team of the Tournament after the final.