Cameroon - Brazil Preview

Brazil: A win or a draw will ensure the Group A frontrunners a place in the last-16. Of course, Luiz Felipe Scolari and his nation know the importance of topping the group with a win but they could also squeeze into top spot if Croatia and Mexico draw in the night's other match.

If Mexico beat Croatia by a greater margin Brazil could still win this match and finish second, which would give Mexico the edge of goal difference. An unlikely defeat for Brazil could see them still qualify with four points. Best to get the calculator out to work out the goal difference for that occurrence.

Cameroon: They have a case of "the England's", in other words Eliminated.

Cameroon

No goals. Five goals conceded. A red card. An injury to their most heralded striker. The left-back head-butting his teammate. It's been another World Cup to forget for the tempestuous Africans.

Coach Volker Finke revealed to reporters earlier this week that there is an "unhealthy atmosphere" in the camp following Benoit Assou-Ekotto's altercation on the field with Benjamin Moukandjo in the 4-0 defeat to Croatia - a loss which followed a defensively erratic 1-0 reverse to Mexico, where their opponents had two goals wrongly chalked off for offside.

Those two defeats mean Cameroon have now lost their last six games in a row at the World Cup. No team has lost seven on the bounce since Mexico in the 1950s (nine games).

Finke is reportedly set to ring the changes for this clash with the host nation.

Assou-Ekotto may have played his last game for his country while Alex Song is suspended after his sending off against Croatia.

In attack, Samuel Eto'o will undergo a fitness test to see whether he will return to the fold after missing their defeat to Croatia due to injury.

Brazil

There's still work to be done for the Brazilians after two performances of surprisingly mediocre proportions.

Croatia were right to feel hard done by leaving the opening match with no points in their satchels after Brazil had the referee to thank in a rather underwhelming 3-1 victory.

The nation expected a reaction, in terms of performance levels, against Mexico, but arguably they regressed further.

Brazil only really troubled their North American rivals from set-pieces and the individual brilliance of Neymar and a 0-0 was a more than fair result on the night.

If they were facing any other side other than Cameroon at this tournament in their final group game, you'd have reservations regarding their chances of taking three points.

Scolari's team selection for this clash will be interesting after an experiment of playing the more defensive focused Ramires instead of Hulk on the right wing rather fell flat against Mexico.

One of either Bernard or Hulk are expected to start in the Selecao's final group game, while the much maligned central striker Fred also is testing Scolari's loyalty after a non-existent display last time out.

Former Manchester City man Jo could replace him after showing signs of positivity from the bench.

Match Odds

It doesn't get much more one-sided than this in terms of market forces.

Not only do they have a higher calibre player in every position than Cameroon and more motivation to succeed, but their stats are pretty frightening.

Brazil have lost just one of their 35 World Cup matches in the first round/group stages of the World Cup since 1970 (W27 D7) and the Seleção are now unbeaten in 39 successive matches in Brazil, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay (0-1in a friendly) in August 2002.