[Maruti]

Cameroon under Paul Le Guen is a beautifully playing side. I have watched Cameroon's 4 last games and I have to say memories of Italy 1990 and Sydney 2000 came to mind. Great team and Le Guen is really the right person for the team. He has seemed to be able to get the best out of them. Song-Geremi-Makoun-Emana-Eto'o are just a killer collective.

In my opinion they shoul be rated just as highly as Ghana and Ivory Coast.

[goliath74]

Originally Posted by Maruti

Cameroon under Paul Le Guen is a beautifully playing side. I have watched Cameroon's 4 last games and I have to say memories of Italy 1990 and Sydney 2000 came to mind. Great team and Le Guen is really the right person for the team. He has seemed to be able to get the best out of them. Song-Geremi-Makoun-Emana-Eto'o are just a killer collective.

In my opinion they shoul be rated just as highly as Ghana and Ivory Coast.

Have Cameroon learned to play against highly disciplined sides yet?

[Maruti]

Originally Posted by goliath74

Have Cameroon learned to play against highly disciplined sides yet?

Not sure what you mean... but well they thrashed a disciplined Morocco without even putting in much effort and playing around for 2/3 of the match...

Looking how well organized the defence is I would say this is the best defending African side, but still having flair up front.

They are unfortunately still a bit wild on the tackles.

I guess we would have to test the Le Guen Cameroon against some Europeans, but I think they would dominate most European medium sides and will play equal with the rest. They never faltered with Austria in August, where the Europeans were whooped without much effort and Cameroon resting for most of the second half.

[goliath74]

Originally Posted by Maruti

Not sure what you mean... but well they thrashed a disciplined Morocco without even putting in much effort and playing around for 2/3 of the match...

Looking how well organized the defence is I would say this is the best defending African side, but still having flair up front.

They are unfortunately still a bit wild on the tackles.

I guess we would have to test the Le Guen Cameroon against some Europeans, but I think they would dominate most European medium sides and will play equal with the rest. They never faltered with Austria in August, where the Europeans were whooped without much effort and Cameroon resting for most of the second half.

I mean countries known for defensive discipline and athleticism, like England, Russia, etc. It is, in fact, a problem with many (if not all) African teams. They can often match the best national teams in speed and skill but when they come up against a well organised, disciplined defense and midfield, they shrink.

P.S. Austria is no middle side. They're poor.

[Maruti]

Originally Posted by goliath74

I mean countries known for defensive discipline and athleticism, like England, Russia, etc. It is, in fact, a problem with many (if not all) African teams. They can often match the best national teams in speed and skill but when they come up against a well organised, disciplined defense and midfield, they shrink.

Morocco has a well organised, disciplined defence and midfield.

Egypt is known for defensive discipline and athleticism.

Ghana around WC2006 dominated most midfields, including that of the Italians or the Czechs. And their disciplined defence was non-existant. The only team which was tough for them was Brasil, which was excellently organized but also had flair. Even there they dominated the midfield, but lacked in strikers.

And there are almost no midfields as well organised and as disciplined as Ghana's... their issue is with strikers, not with discipline.

Egypt's last confrontation with Europeans led to a 1:0 win over Italy. The same Egypt that is having issues with a second tier side namely Algeria in qualifying for the World Cup...

Actually its been a while since I've seen a top African team has ever 'shrunk' when confronting top European opposition. Nigeria beat France no so log ago... and this Nigerian team was crap. But they still dominated play an no shrinking was to be observed. And Nigeria isn't even very good anymore...

You must have stopped watching African teams somewhere in the 70s... definitely didn't see Cameroon or Algieria in 1982...

African sides have issues with South American opposition. Not so much European. Baa.. even Japan has been having more success with the Africans then European sides.

That said the much touted Ivory Coast has been very poor with non-African opposition... I'm wondering to see if the Germany match will finally see them playing up to their potential.

p.s. Your 'weak' Austria managed to massacre France 3:1 and overtake Serbia in their group during qualifying, winning all games at home save one... but they were totally dominated by a resurgent Cameroon at home.

[glennaldo_sf]

Morocco finished bottom of their group, no? behind global superpowerhouses Togo + Gabon... and won't even make the African Nations Cup... can't even be considered one of the top 16 teams in Africa let alone a 'highly disciplined side' of the calibre that they will face in the world cup.

With that said, as much as I love rooting for the underdog, I'm kind of glad to see Africa sending it's best teams/players to this world cup. With the WC being hosted in Africa, this is an excellent opportunity for at least one of their sides to make the SFs for the first time in history. Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon and Egypt, should the qualify will all be forces to be reckoned with next summer especially playing on 'home' soil. As opposed to the likes of Gabon, Angola, Togo, etc.. .like we got last year. Tunisia have made the last 3 but don't really make much impact so Im glad to see Nigeria there who have made the latter stages twice instead. I actually think that the WC being hosted in Africa will give the level of competition an added dimension of competitiveness as the African team, blended in with seeded teams will make the groups very tough. Could be a good WC for Africa.

[emmex]

I feel african teams are unbeatable at times...When they are in the mood, they can destroy world class teams. The problem is they often lack discipline. This may be because a lack of professional "tools" so to speak. They don't have the same level of coaching clinics, scouting, coaching and other professional work horses as first world countries do.
Tactical awareness is not so good as Europe and they get caught out by opposition managing their teams better than they are used to. Yet they have physique and talent that very few rival.

To me South Africa is (or is supposed to be) a balance of both African and European styles...almost like brazil who is kinda a mix between flair and european professionalism and tactical awareness. Problem with South Africa is that they lack the physique of even the Europeans...So they rely too much on speed and carpet football and can't cope with areal play....But there was a time when they balanced these things well....But i feel once things are dealt with on management level, they will be the same force to be reckoned with as other top African countries....

It's sad...because South Africa has far more "professional tools" than most african countries.

[Bonizzoni]

Now with Algeria advancing...

I think Algeria can make a solid campaign. They have 2 nice points : as many Sub-Saarian NTs,most of their players play in Europe,which Egypt has 95% playing at their legue; And they don't suffer the lack of discipline that is so common in CIV,Nigeria,etc.

The difference is that all them have a Drogba,Essien,Eto'o...and Algeria don't have a world class player. They need to advance by collective play.

[superfrantheman]

i guess this is the best team in africa right now

IVORY COAST

then nigeria, cameroon and ghana ---

and then argelia and southafrica


interesting teams, because they all play different....

x strenghts weaknesses
ivory coast great attack, solid defense what about the GK?
drogba, kalou, eboue, toure
cameroon etoo, kameni, attack on the sometimes they are too
sides fast players, stamina innocent, and the bench
nigeria fast players,probably the other than martins
fastest strong players i dont see another striker
good midfield
ghana strong, fast and stamina the goalie, and they need
to learn more tactics
argelia good technique, good players probably the bench, and
good gks, strong defense they arent that fast as the
previous four
southafrica local team, lack tecnique

[superfrantheman]

x strenghts weaknesses
ivory coast great attack, solid defense what about the GK?
drogba, kalou, eboue, toure
cameroon etoo, kameni, attack on the sometimes they are too
sides fast players, stamina innocent, and the bench
nigeria fast players,probably the other than martins
fastest strong players i dont see another striker
good midfield
ghana strong, fast and stamina the goalie, and they need
to learn more tactics
argelia good technique, good players probably the bench, and
good gks, strong defense they arent that fast as the
previous four
southafrica local team, lack tecnique