Japan vs Cameroon Preview

Japan and Cameroon get their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ campaigns under way at Bloemfontein on Monday.

Paul Le Guen's side will hope to recapture the roar that saw Cameroon thrill the world in 1990 as they reached the last eight before losing to England.

They have not fared so well in major tournaments since but Le Guen will be hoping his side can kick-off their Group E bid with a maximum-points haul against a Japan side who enter the finals low on form and confidence.

The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in three meetings with Cameroon, winning twice, but they have never won a World Cup™ game outside of their home nation, losing five of their six games on foreign soil.

And Takeshi Okada's side have failed to impress in the build-up to Monday's game, losing to Serbia, South Korea, England and Ivory Coast in four straight warm-up friendlies and then battling to an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe in a training match in George on Thursday.

Le Guen could name a surprise first XI for the Japan clash after hinting to a couple of surprise omissions in Saturday's press conference.

The Cameroon coach looks set to name midfielder Alex Song on the bench despite the Arsenal man's impressive form for club and country over the last 12 months.

Le Guen, whose side have only won one of their last 10 matches at World Cup™ finals, is also tipped to drop regular goalkeeper Carlos Kameni with 36-year-old Hamidou Souleymanou likely to get the nod between the sticks.

Samuel Eto'o, who was the second-top scorer in African World Cup™ qualifiers with nine goals in 11 appearances, has put aside his differences with Cameroon legend Roger Milla after threatening to pull out of the tournament and will spearhead the Lions' attack at the Free State Stadium.

Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe has declared himself fully fit and ready to take on Cameroon in Durban.

The Wolfsburg schemer was a doubt for the Group E opener after picking up a back injury in the Ivory Coast friendly, but the 26-year-old suffered no reaction to featuring in the Zimbabwe draw.

Okada, who has been criticised for changing his squad's formation, is expected to start Monday's match with fast-rising CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda as a lone frontman.