The Brazilian team ends its participation in the first of the Qatar Cup, starting at 4 pm (Brasília time) this Friday (2) at Lusail Stadium, in a match against Cameroon. After victories over Serbia and Switzerland in the previous rounds, Brazil is expected to add three more points in order to end its participation in Group G with a 100% advantage.
With qualification for the round of 16 already assured, coach Tite decided to spare the players considered in the starting line-up, which will also allow him to observe athletes who had few opportunities to show service. “I can only measure how many athletes I can use in a row with them producing on the field. It’s a high-level opportunity for them to compete. It’s a risk? Yes, but an opportunity to show all their quality”, declared the coach in a press conference last Thursday (1).
Good morning, fan! ??
Today we woke up with our passport stamped for the round of 16 of the World Cup. ??
We continue to count on your support on the journey to Friday ⭐️.
?️This Friday (2), at 4 pm (Brasília time), the Brazilian national team faces Cameroon, at Estádio Lusail. pic.twitter.com/CNnANuHoyA
— CBF Football (@CBF_Futebol) November 29, 2022
Considering three certain absences due to injury (Neymar, Danilo and Alex Sandro) and Brazil’s latest activities in Qatar, the expectation is that Brazil will enter the field with a completely new team. A possible selection line-up for the match against Cameroon is: Ederson; Daniel Alves, Militão, Bremer and Alex Telles; Fabinho, Fred and Rodrygo; Antony, Gabriel Jesus and Martinelli.
Daniel Alves will even live a special moment against Cameroon. At the age of 39, the winger will become the most experienced player to wear the yellow shirt in a FIFA World Cup. “This is a reason to be proud, a reason to be here and still defend the national team. There are many years of history and now it’s time to end the cycle within the Brazilian national team playing a World Cup. For me it is a great satisfaction”, he declared.
If Brazil arrives in a comfortable situation at the start, for the African team (which has just one point after two rounds) a victory is essential to continue dreaming of a place in the round of 16.
And the coach of Cameroon, Rigobert Song, stated, in a press conference, that his team will not give up an offensive posture that allows it to seek the classification: “We don’t think about how they [Brasil] will behave, but we think about how we are going to behave. Admittedly, they have the ranking advantage. We don’t want to think about how they’re going to attack us, but how we’re going to attack them. I don’t care what they do and we prepare to play a decent game. It’s a final.”
For this match one absence is certain, the main goalkeeper André Onana, suspended for disciplinary reasons. So Epassy should take the position. Another novelty could be the entry of number 10 Aboubakar, who was decisive in the 3-3 draw with Serbia, a match in which he scored a goal and provided an assist.
With that, a possible lineup of Cameroon for the game with Brazil is: Epassy; Fai, Castelletto, N’Koulou and Tolo; Hongla, Anguissa and Kunde; Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting and Ekambi.
