MY ACCOUNT
– Brazil have won all seven of their previous WC games v African nations
– Six of those seven wins were achieved by more than one goal
– Recommended bet: Brazil -1 Spread (3 Way)
Brazil are set to make wholesale changes to their line-up for Friday’s final Group G game against a Cameroon side that must win to stay in the World Cup.
Cameroon need to beat the five-time World Cup winners to stand a chance of reaching the knockout phase, but even that may not be enough if the result of the Serbia-Switzerland game does not go their way.
Rigobert Song knows the size of the task, but the Indomitable Lions coach can point to his personal ‘danger theory’ motto and Cameroon’s courageous victory in Algeria to qualify as reasons to keep the faith.
A Selecao’s wins over the two European nations in the group mean progression has already been secured and enables coach Tite to spare the majority of his starters for the clash at Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Team news
Andre Onana has left Qatar after being temporarily suspended from the squad over a tactical disagreement with Song.
The Inter Milan goalkeeper refused to bend to the coach’s insistence that he should hit his goal kicks long instead of playing out from the back.
Devis Epassy was drafted in between the posts to earn his sixth senior cap in Cameroon’s 3-3 draw with Serbia on Monday and looks set to keep the gloves for this crucial game.
Vincent Aboubakar made a strong case for inclusion from the start with a goal and an assist off the bench, which could see him paired with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Midfielder Olivier Ntcham has recovered from an injury that kept him out of Cameroon’s first two games and should play a part in his nation’s decider.
Brazil will rotate heavily with Ederson almost certain to come in for Alisson in goal while defenders Bremer and Dani Alves could also see their first action of the tournament in place of Thiago Silva and Eder Militao.
Gabriel Martinelli and Antony, who have both seen minutes off the bench in the earlier games, could be handed opportunities from the start while Rodrygo could see further action with Neymar still nursing an ankle problem.
Bruno Guimaraes could replace Fred, who is one yellow card away from a suspension, while Fabinho will come in for Casemiro to protect the Manchester United man from picking up an unwanted booking.
Alex Telles will get the start at left-back after Alex Sandro became the latest player to be ruled out by a hip issue that forced him off against Switzerland.
Pedro is vying with Gabrel Jesus for the striker’s berth with Richarlison almost certain to be among the stars rested by Tite.
The stats
Song became the youngest player ever to be sent off in the World Cup when he saw red against Brazil in 1994, aged 17.
Against Switzerland, Onana had more touches (61) than any other goalkeeper during a game at this World Cup.
He also became the goalkeeper to record the most touches on the ball outside the area (26) in a World Cup game since 1966, when statistics began to be measured.
Aged 39 years and 210 days, Alves will become the oldest player to represent Brazil in the World Cup if he appears against Cameroon.
Brazil have played seven matches against African sides at the World Cup and won each time.
Six of those seven wins have been achieved by more than a one-goal margin.
Prediction
Brazil’s second string have enough quality to keep the five-time winners rolling onto the knockout stage with a perfect record, but they could be vulnerable at the back.
Alves has not played a game in two months and last wore the Brazil shirt in June against Japan, so there could be some rustiness for Cameroon’s forward players to exploit there.
The Indomitable Lions’ defence has been flawed in the first two games with lapses in concentration allowing their opponents to score three times either side of half-time on Monday.
Cameroon allowed Serbia to take 10 shots from inside the box in that game and anything similar to that could be fatal against a Brazil side that has rattled off 36 shots, 21 from inside the 18-yard area, across two games against sides deploying a low defensive block.
The problem Cameroon have here is that they need to play on the front foot and gamble by leaving some space behind their backline.
Brazil’s perfect record in this World Cup and overall at this level against African nations should continue here with Tite’s side looking good at -1 on LiveScore Bet’s Spread (3 Way) at 19/20.
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