Read a full match preview and watch a live stream of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group A clash between Mexico and Cameroon from Natal.
Where: Arena das Dunas, Natal
When: 5pm BST
Watch live: Click here to watch online with ITV Football!
Mexico face Cameroon in the second fixture of Group A’s opening round, with both teams knowing that a result is vital if they are to launch a realistic challenge for qualification to the second round.
With the game taking place the day after the tournament curtain raiser between hosts Brazil and Croatia, the pair have the advantage of knowing the others’ result, but it is likely that a defeat for either would leave their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.
Cameroon may have put a bonus dispute behind them but are still arriving at the tournament in something approaching disarray, with manager Volker Finke praying that the Indomitable Lions can put the distractions to one side and perform on the pitch.
They are like to line up in a tight 4-3-3 formation that will see a front trio of Vincent Aboubakar, Samuel Eto’o and Benjamin Moukandjo tasked with providing the bulk of creativity for one another. Highly rated forward Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting from Bundesliga side Mainz may feature from the start but is more likely to offer a dangerous option from the bench.
A solid central midfield comprised of Jean Makoun, Eyong Enoh and Alex Song will look to provide cover for a shaky defence that will rely heavily on the form of Marseille centre back Nicolas N’Koulou.
Opponents Mexico are looking to perform much better in the tournament itself than they did in qualifying, with manager Miguel Herrera only being appointed in time to guide the Mexicans through a play-off against New Zealand.
Herrera tends to favour a 5-3-2 system that sees former Barcelona centre back Rafael Marquez covered by Diego Reyes and Hector Moreno so that his lack of pace is not massively exposed.
FC Porto playmaker Hector Herrera is the star man in midfield, whilst Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez takes the bulk of the goalscoring burden alongside Santos Laguna’s Oribe Peralta. Villarreal’s former Tottenham Hotspur man Giovani dos Santos offers an intriguing option as an impact substitute.
Both sides are more impressive going forward than they are at protecting their own goal, but the huge cost of losing this opening game is likely to lead to a cagey affair in Natal.
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