Samuel Eto'o's potential World Cup winners look to bounce back against Serbia

Cameroon can get their World Cup back on track with a win against Serbia

Qatar 2022 Samuel Eto'o's potential World Cup winners look to bounce back against Serbia

Ayoola Kelechi 18:36 - 27.11.2022

The Indomitable Lions were dominated against Switzerland, but now have the chance for redemption against Serbia.

Cameroon continue their quest to emulate the likes of Spain, Italy, and Brazil in winning the World Cup when they play Serbia in their second group game. 

They have really committed to doing it like Spain in 2010, and have done the easy part by losing their opening game, now they have to do the hard part by winning the rest of their games, starting with Monday's game against Serbia. 

Head-to-Head 

Serbia and Cameroon have met only once before in a friendly ahead of the 2020 World Cup in South Africa. On that occasion, Serbia recorded a narrow win in a 4-3 thriller and judging by current form, they are likely to win the first 'serious' encounter between them as well. 

Serbia's loss to Brazil was their first in seven matches, while Cameroon have not won a match in their last five attempts. Despite playing against countries like Panama, Jamaica, and Uzbekistan in this run, Cameroon have failed to pick up a win in five games, have conceded in all of their last five games, and conceded first in four of them. 

Players to watch

Cameroon 

Bryan Mbeumo

The Brentford forward was a bright spark in an otherwise dull opening game for Cameroon against Switzerland. On another day, he could have had an assist or two, but the ball just refused to go in the net for Cameroon. 

Bryan Mbeumo playing for Cameroon vs Switzerland
Bryan Mbeumo will be a major threat to Serbia with his pace and skill

He will try again against Serbia, hoping to have better luck this time. Watch out for his electrifying runs and audacity on the ball which could be key to unsettling a normally tight Serbian defence. 

Serbia 

Alexander Mitrovic

It is hard to look past Alexander Mitrovic when searching for Serbia's key man, not just because of his 6'2" frame but also because of his mammoth achievements with the national team. 

Alexander Mitrovic playing for Serbia against Brazil
Alexander Mitrovic has scored 50 goals for Serbia

He is already Serbia's top goalscorer of all time with 50 goals, including eight during qualification for the World Cup. The Fulham frontman is yet to kick-off his 2022 World Cup campaign but will be hoping he can do just that against Cameroon. kick off

Possible lineups 

Cameroon are unlikely to change their squad from the first game, so expect a similar XI as in the first game. 

Serbia, still without the injured Filip Kostic, could switch to a front two against  Cameroon, having left most of their offensive effort to only Alexander Mitrovic in their opener vs Brazil. 

Possible Cameroon XI: André Onana; Collins Fai Collins Fai, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas N'Koulou, Nouhou Tolo; Frank Anguissa, Samuel Oum Gouet, Martin Hongla; Bryan Mbeumo, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi. 

Possible Serbia XI: Vanja Milinković-Savić; Strahinja Pavlović, Miloš Veljković, Nikola Milenković; Filip Mladenović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saša Lukić, Andrija Živković; Dušan Tadić; Dušan Vlahović, Aleksandar Mitrović.

Prediction

Serbia may be in much better form than Cameroon, but both teams are primed to cancel each other out. A low-scoring draw seems like the most probable outcome, so 0-0

Tags: