The 2010 FIFA World Cup Thread #3/Sports Saturday #3 For 6/19/10: Cameroon Becomes First Out Of The Competition, As Rommedahl's Class Gives Denmark Massive Win

Photo from Getty Images and FIFA.com

Final analysis:
Well, Paul Le Gren's tactics were completely right this time, but it is the sins of getting everything oh so wrong in the 1st match that have come back to bite Cameroon and send them out as the First team eliminated from this World Cup.

Simply put, Benoit Assou Ekotto cost Cameroon this match, although his Tottenham teammate Bassong wasn't that much better for them. He didn't take Rommedhal seriously on the 1st goal, allowing the cross to Bendtner. And he was way out of position on the 2nd goal, as Rommedhal took advantage of his obvious mis-match against Makoun. The Ajax man was brilliant today, showing that he is still a quality winger on his day, with his former 10.2 speed in the 100 meters.

For Cameroon, it is full pain obviously, out of the World Cup on African soil after being bounce out of the group stages 8 years ago in Korea/Japan. And it all could have been avoided if not for a nightmare performance against Japan, thanks to Le Gren's shocking tactics.

Instead, they are out of the tournament with one match left against the Dutch. And for Samuel Eto'o, that may have been his last chance on the world international stage to shine bright, knowing that his once great pace is slight fading away bit by bit as time progresses.

And with them eliminated, it may present one last swan song for their defensive legend Rigobert Song to debut for his National Team.

It is an early farewell for an African power, the earliest of this tournament so far.

Now, on towards a Man of the Match decision worse than Ashley Cole's yesterday:

Now I like Daniel Agger, but he sure as he wasn't......well, Ashley Cole was more Man of the Match yesterday than he was today.

The review of the game.

Group E Standings
Netherlands 6 pts (+3)
Japan 3 pts (0)
Denmark 3 pts (-1)
Cameroon 0 pts (-2)


And the Match archive:

Lineups, and once again, along with Kamanei. Paul Le Gren must really hate him:

Cameroon: Souleymanou, Assou Ekotto, Nkoulou, Bassong, A Song, Njitap, Eto'o, Emana, Webo, Eyong, Mbia

Denmark: Sorensen, C Poulsen, SB Poulsen, Kjaer, Agger, L Jacobsen, Gronkjaer, Tomasson, Jorgensen, Bendtner, Rommedahl

It's needed improvements for Cameroon, and I think they get the win here. 2-1 to Cameroon here.

1st half analysis:

Photo from Getty images and Fifa.com

Well, that was a very boring first half, wasn't it?

In all seriousness, both managers have gotten it right so far, where it will come down to the players in this game. Whose defense will get it together in this 2nd half?

Benoit Assou Ekotto somehow didn't know that Denis Rommedahl can still beat any left back in the world if you don't respect how fast he still is. And the Ajax man did that on that "Move of the tournament", slip by the Tottenham left back and delivered a pass that even Nicklas Bendtner of all people could finish. And he did just that.

But with how sound the Danes are going forward, they are just as shocking as they are in the backs. Shaky pass by Sorensen to Paulsen, who then made an even more dreadful pass that lead several passes later to Samuel Eto'o getting on the score sheet for his 2nd World Cup.

I still believe Camerron will finish up top 2-1, but with how this gam is going, no one would be shocked if this becomes a 3-3 or 4-4 thriller.