Cameroon have tough World Cup group with Brazil and Serbia, even if Onana saves them – predicted line-up and stats

CAMEROON face a strong group. Their opponents in Group G will be Serbia, Brazil, and Switzerland. Serbia seems to be the most likely team to reach the Round of 16, together with Brazil.

The Africans will have to fight against the Europeans to reach the Round of 16, as Brazil is definitely expected to finish 1st in the Group. Let's learn more about the international team of Cameroon!

Predicted Starting XI

Since taking the job mid-calendar year, manager Song has deployed many different formations with Cameroon.

Given the side’s strength in depth in the midfield department, the manager has been able to chop and change the shape depending on the opponent.

Primarily, Cameroon shift between conventional back four systems, such as 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 4-1-4-1, as well as the 4-2-3-1, although this has been the structure least used by the Cameroonians.

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Given that Cameroon will potentially be forced to drop off and defend for large parts of their games, Song will likely line his players out in a 4-4-2.

Attacking phase

Over the course of 2022 so far, Cameroon have boasted 56% of ball possession per game, on average. 

During the AFCON last year, the side held the third-highest possession average in the competition at 58%, losing only to Morocco and Algeria who had higher numbers.

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However, Cameroon’s numbers are greatly inflated due to Song’s team playing a lot worse opposition than what the Indomitable Lions should expect in Group G of the World Cup. 

For instance, in Cameroon’s recent friendly against South Korea, the African giants had merely 38% of the ball and lost 2-0.

Song is quite relaxed about his players having possession of the ball. It would be far from correct for any pundit to call Cameroon a possession-oriented team. 

This is because on the ball, particularly during the build-up phase, the manager is keen to play direct football.

Cameroon do like to position themselves to play out from the back, with the goalkeeper often trying to build up from the defensive field directly to the attacking zone.

When the Cameroonians do so, the centre-backs split wide to accommodate the higher positioning of the goalkeeper while the fullbacks move up the pitch on the flanks.

Once the ball is played long towards the frontmen, the objective for Cameroon is to win the second ball.

In the image below, the left centre-back has hit the ball directly to the centre-forward who has managed to drag the entire Algeria backline into a deeper position.

Players like Choupo-Moting and Vincent Aboubakar are excellent aerially and with their hold-up play, making direct passes an efficient option for Cameroon.

The same principle applies when Cameroon are set up in a structured positional attack around the halfway line and are attempting to break down an opponent’s defensive zone.

Again, here, we see both Cameroon’s central midfielder and centre-forward making a run in behind the Burundi backline.

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