Cameroon vs Serbia Prediction
28th November 2022
13:00 Qatar Time/10:00 GMT
Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
World Cup Tournament Form:
Cameroon
Switzerland
1-0
Serbia
Brazil
2-0
World Cup Head-to-Head Record
N/A
Cameroon vs Serbia Prediction Match Overview
Cameroon vs Serbia is the second match for both sides in Group G. Both teams will be disappointed by the results in their opening games, but the performances were generally okay. Cameroon played pretty well against Switzerland, threatening a few times in the first half through Bryan Mbeumo, Karl Toko Ekambi, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. However, they were unable to score. In the second half, Xherdan Shaqiri crossed for Breel Emoblo to fire home from close-range to seal the victory for Switzerland. The Swiss then went on to close the game down, but Cameroon can take heart that their tricky attackers can score goals against Serbia.
The Serbians, as expected, lost to the Brazilians. However, throughout the first half, they frustrated the South Americans in what was an attritional half. Serbia generally played with a 3-5-1-1 for most of the game, with Dusan Tadic playing slightly behind Alexsandar Mitrovic, though Dusan Vlahovic entered the game in the second half. However, they only created a little and only had 37 per cent of possession. In the second half, Brazil’s class told as they produced several threatening situations and scored two goals thanks to forward Richarlison – a tap-in and a beautiful scissor kick. The Serbians will take heart as the pre-tournament favourites did not utterly destroy them. Cameroon vs Serbia is now an important match, as both teams know that the loser faces likely elimination.
Injuries and Suspensions
Might not play: Kostic (Serbia)
Will not play: Ntcham (Cameroon)
Possible Lineups
Cameroon vs Serbia Prediction Analysis
Width
Cameroon will likely mostly stay the same from the Switzerland game. Serbia, on the other hand, might switch to two strikers as they must try to win the game. Hence, they might bring in Dusan Vlahovic for either Nemanja Gudelj or Sasa Lukic, likely Lukic. This change will give them more firepower in attack, as they understandably started with quite a defensive lineup against Brazil. The width should be crucial in this game. It is likely a back four versus a back three, so two different systems. The Cameroonian full-backs (likely Collins Fai and Nouhou Tolo) must try to attack down the sides and support Mbeumo and Toko Ekambi on the overlap. It is imperative that they link up with their wide men and try to find ways into the Serbian box. It will not be easy as Serbia will likely line up with their three-player central defence again. It will be up to Toko Ekambi and Mbeumo to produce moments of magic. They must come inside onto the Serbia centre-backs and try to get shots away or even slip cute little passes into Choupo-Moting. Mbeumo and Toko Ekambi have the pace and trickery to give the Serbian wing-backs (likely Filip Mladenovic and Andrija Zivkovic) a tough time, and they can create in these channels. We also anticipate that Choupo-Moting will sometimes come to the wider areas to overload them further. High crosses into the box might be a poorer avenue for Cameroon due to the height and physical power of the three Serbian centre-backs. They are better served to try to play their way in to the box.
The Serbian wing-backs have a big job in this game. On the one hand, they must try to get forward to get crosses in the box for Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic. Conversely, they must avoid getting caught too far up the pitch and allowing Toko Ekambi and Mbuemo to exploit the spaces they vacate. This situation is where Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Nemanja Gudelj will be important in covering these spaces left by the Serbian wing-backs. Zivkovic and Mladenovic must be sensible and choose the right moments to advance. They do have the insurance of the midfielders, but they cannot just attack with reckless abandon. Dusan Tadic will support them. Even though Tadic is more of an attacking midfielder, he will sometimes come wide to link with the wing-backs. The service into the box from Mladenovic and Zivkovic must be of high quality.
Midfield Battle
Both teams possess talented midfielders, with Milinkovic-Savic and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa being the picks of the bunch. Both men are strong, energetic, and physical, playing in Serie A at Lazio and Napoli, respectively. Zambo Anguissa has also displayed a tendency to get forward from a deeper position and get goals and assists. Whichever of these players can control Cameroon vs Serbia will give their team a platform to go and attack and try to win the game. Serbia will likely have more of the ball. However, we expect possession to be closely contested and this to be a game with plenty of transitions. Zambo Anguissa’s pace on the counter could come into play here. He must link up well with Martin Hongla and Samuel Gouet to keep the ball moving and not let Serbia find any rhythm. The Serbians, for their part, will look to Tadic as the link between their central midfielders and their two forward players. He must try to help keep possession for his team.
Serbian Strikers
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic are massive threats for the Serbians, particularly in the air. Cameroonian centre-backs Jean-Charles Castelletto and Nicolas Nkoulou must be very mindful of this. The two forwards are Serbia’s best chance of scoring, and the two Cameroon centre-backs will have to defend a bombardment of crosses into the box. Mitrovic and Vlahovic are also decent on the ground and will look to be slipped in from through balls by Tadic. However, it is undoubtedly in the air where Serbia’s most significant threat lies, as they are a tall team with big strikers. Mitrovic and Vlahovic can find success here, especially if they pull off the centre-backs and try to dominate the Cameroon full-backs when the latter try to cover at crosses. In this respect, Serbia must shift the ball quickly from side to side and try to pull the Cameroonians out of position and disrupt their shape. The Serbian strikers can find space in the box if they can do this. Set pieces will also come into play, where the tall Serbian centre-backs come forward.
Cameroon Key Players
Nicolas Nkoulou
Nkoulou is an experienced campaigner, and his ability to marshal the Cameroonian defence will be vital in Cameroon vs Serbia. He must not let Mitrovic or Vlahovic peel off him and get their heads on crosses coming in from Tadic and the Serbian wing-backs. There will likely be an aerial threat, so Nkoulou and Castelletto must be strong, and goalkeeper Andre Onana must be brave and come to claim crosses. Nkoulou must communicate well with his defenders, not allowing Serbia to drag them out of position. He will be crucial on set pieces too, when Serbia fire in dangerous crosses from corners and free-kicks.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Zambo Anguissa is a technical and energetic midfielder, and his ability on the ball and athleticism will be crucial here. Cameroon must display their pace and power, and Zambo Anguissa is imperative. He must receive the ball from the centre-backs and try to evade any Serbian pressure in midfield. He must also drive forward on transitions to support Mbeumo, Toko Ekambi, and Choupo-Moting. As a goal threat, he will look to get into the box and trouble the Serbian back three. His covering for his full-backs will also be necessary when they go forward. Zambo Anguissa is an all-round midfielder, and his performance here will be vital for Cameroon.
Serbia Key Players
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Like Zambo Anguissa, Milinkovic-Savic is a powerful, technical all-round midfielder. However, he is likely not as dynamic as the Cameroonian man. Milinkovic-Savic’s intelligence and ability to keep the play moving will be essential for Serbia. He must try to control the game and win the battle. If he and Gudelj can gain control, they can form a triangle with Tadic to keep the ball away from Cameroon’s midfielders. In this respect, Milinkovic-Savic’s composure on the ball will be crucial in Cameroon vs Serbia. In addition to trying to run the game through his passing, he must try to cover spaces when the Serbian wing-backs go forward. The wing-backs are a vital part of Serbia’s game, so Milinkovic-Savic must offer them some insurance. At 6 foot 3, his height on set pieces, both attacking and defending, will also be crucial.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Like his likely strike partner Vlahovic, Mitrovic is fantastic in the air. Therefore, as stated, Serbia’s key weapon in this match will be crossing balls into the box for him and Vlahovic to attack. They will also attempt to exploit Mitrovic’s skill in the air on set pieces. We wouldn’t be surprised if Serbia scored a headed goal in this game, and if they do, it may well be through Mitrovic. He has been in fine goalscoring form for Fulham this season. Though he didn’t get many chances against Brazil, he will fancy his prospects against the Cameroonian backline. He is also decent on the ground and will seek to link play with Tadic in forward areas. However, he is primarily a penalty box poacher and lethal in the air, and Serbia will seek to exploit that.
Cameroon vs Serbia Prediction
Cameroon vs Serbia is tough to predict.. Serbia will likely have enough to win the game. However, Cameroon showed they have pace and trickery and are a threat on the break against Switzerland, particularly in the first half. Toko Ekambi, Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, and Vincent Aboubakar can find some joy in the Serbian defensive third. With three big Serbian centre-backs and two covering midfielders, it will not be easy, but Cameroon will back themselves to score. Serbia scored 14 goals in their five games before drawing a blank against Brazil. They will also fancy their chances of scoring in this match. Indeed, Tadic’s inventiveness and Mitrovic and Vlahovic’s imposing physicality will be integral to their game plan. The midfield battle is also fascinating, with two talented Serie A midfielders on opposing teams. Serbia could score a set-piece goal here, and we think they will get the three points in a closely-contested game.