Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

World Cup 2014: Cameroon vs Brazil match preview

A look ahead to the crucial Group A meeting for the hosts

Konstantinos Lianos

Monday 23 June 2014 15:11 BST

Brazil are not yet guaranteed a place in the knock out phase (Getty images)

Brazil’s draw against Mexico last week was a setback for the hosts despite the fact they remain on top of the Group A table. The Selecao have nothing in mind but victory against Cameroon as another blunder could prove to be much more costly than the last fixture. A draw will be enough for them to progress.

LIVE: Follow today's latest news, including Cameroon v Brazil

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is expected to line up with the same team but may be fortunate enough to have Zenit forward Hulk back to full fitness. Much will be expected by Barcelona star Neymar who must be feeling very confident after scoring 33 international goals in 51 appearances and six in his last five caps.

For Cameroon this has been a World Cup to forget with tensions in the squad sky-high. After almost refusing to board their plane to Brazil over financial disputes, the nation is still coming to terms with star midfielder Alex Song being sent off for throwing a ridiculous elbow at Mario Mandzukic. Things got worse in their last outing when Tottenham Hotspur left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted his own teammate Benjamin Moukandjo.

Manager Volker Finke will not have Song at his disposal and will probably not start Assou-Ekotto either, but will be hoping to get the help of star striker Samuel Eto’o so the team can finish the tournament with their head held high.

KICK-OFF: Monday, 9pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Brazil 2 (Sobis, Marcelo) Cameroon 0, Olympic Games, August 2008

Brazil 0 Cameroon 1 (Eto’o), Confederations Cup, June 2003

Brazil 2 (Loco-Abreu, Miguel) Cameroon 0, Confederations Cup, May 2001

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Show all 14

1/14World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Cristiano Ronaldo

The world's best player has never been afraid of rocking some perfectly coiffed barnets, but this one looks as if his barber dropped the clippers mid-shave - however a story later emerged on Twitter that said Ronaldo had shaved the zig-zag in his hair as a show of solidarity for a child who had brain surgery. The Portuguese footed the £50,000 surgery for Erik Ortiz Cruz to have an operation in March.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Nani

Nani has always been ridiculed by his Manchester United team-mates for being in awe of Ronaldo, and now that he's chosen to copy his former club team-mate by shaving something into his hair will only provide more material for the banter.

GETTY IMAGES

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Marouane Fellaini

A long favourite of hair-based galleries for a long time, Marouane Fellain's mop still looks awful. At least it has a decent story behind it - it's a nod to his father, who sported one when he was younger.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Néstor Pitana

Argentinian referee Nestor Pitana needs to lose only about four hair-strands before he takes Sir Bobby Charlton's crown as having the best (worst) comb over.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Raul Meireles

A man who wouldn't look out of place with the hipster crowd of east London, Ronaldo's team-mate Raul Meireles has the best beard of the World Cup. He needs to spend more time on his hair, though.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Luka Modric

Not a particularly bad cut but the Croatian playmaker looked much better with the flowing blond hair we all knew and loved.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Dani Alves

Dani Alves clearly opted for the wrong shade of highlighter. Instead of going for blond it looks as if the Brazil full back has picked up grey.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Neymar haircut

The most famous man in Brazil's hair is all over the place. Up at the front, shaved at the sides, terrible blond highlights... a mess.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

David Luiz

The third Brazilian in this list sent this internet into a spin with rumours he had chopped off his famous locks, David Luiz emerged with his curly head of hair in tact. A living, breathing Sideshow Bob.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Asamoah Gyan

It's a rare moment when a striker wears the No 3 shirt, but Asamoah Gyan is so close to the number he decided to get it imprinted with blond highlights in the side of his head. If only Ghana could have found a third against the Germans.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Luis Nani

Another to sport have his number shaved into the side of his head, Portugal and Manchester United winger Luis Nani opted to have the No 17 bordered by a star.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Benoit Assou-Ekotto

We're not sure if the hairband at the front of Benoit Assou-Ekotto's hair is to stop his afro getting in his eyes, or to protect his forehead when he decides to butt his Cameroon team-mates.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Paul Pogba

The coveted French midfielder has gone a bit over the top with the highlighter. Not content with adding a bit of colour to his mohican, Pogba has also added blond streaks to the side of his head and shaved various parts.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014: The worst haircuts in Brazil

Kyle Beckerman

USA midfielder Kyle Beckerman might be summoning his inner Bob Marley with these long dreadlocks, but it's not working.

Getty Images

STATS…

Those two sides have not faced each other at the World Cup for 10 years. Last time they played, Brazil won 3-0.

Cameroon have only won one of their last 15 World Cup matches and lost 10. Last time they won was against Saudi Arabia in 2002.

The Indomitable Lions hold the worst losing streak of any African nation at the World Cup as they have lost their last six matches in the competition.

Last week marked the second goalless match for Brazil after 26 straight games in the World Cup.

The match against Mexico featured Luiz Felipe Scolari’s first ever draw at the World Cup group stage. His last draw in the competition occurred in 2006 where Portugal had a goalless tie with England in the quarter-finals but won the penalty shoot-out.

ODDS…

Cameroon to win: 25.1

Brazil to win: 1.8

Draw: 10.1

TV: Live on ITV at 9pm

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies