Germany Waiting for Final Group Match at World Cup finals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Germany Waiting for Final Group Match at World Cup finals

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Germany's fate is in their own hands in Tuesday's World Cup Group E clash against Cameroon in Shizuoka, Japan, a match which will decide whether they continue their revival or pack for home, under coach Rudi Voeller.

The triple world champions need only a draw from the to make sure of reaching the knock-out stages -- their minimum aim after a shaky run in qualifying and a series of injury blows, British news agency Reuters reported from Shizuoka.

Cameroon, lying second in the group behind Germany on goal difference, realistically have to win since Ireland are likely to beat Saudi Arabia by two clear goals in Yokohama at the same time.

"I'm convinced we will make it," said Voeller, whose team opened with a record-breaking 8-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in the tournament opener before a 1-1 draw with Ireland.

But Cameroon's German coach Winfried Schaefer is defiant, dreaming that the Indomitable Lions could repeat their brilliant run at the 1990 tournament, when they narrowly lost to England in the quarter-finals.

"This is the first against the second and I like our chances," said Schaefer.

Germany have never made an exit from a World Cup after the first round since 1938.

Cameroon managed a 1-1 draw with Ireland before a 1-0 win over modest Saudi Arabia. They confidently expect for an upset. "I'm very confident for this decisive encounter. We will be ready and we will win," said Real Madrid wing-back Geremi.

Both sides should be at full strength as Germany's Miroslav Klose, the tournament's leading scorer with four goals, and Cameroon's defender and captain Rigobert Song had both put their injury behind them.

Germany will rely on a disciplined collective effort while Cameroon will count on flashes of individual brilliance, most notably from quicksilver forwards Samuel Eto'o and Patrick Mboma.

Probable teams:

Germany (3-5-2): 1-Oliver Kahn; 2-Thomas Linke, 5-Carsten Ramelow, 21-Christoph Metzelder; 22-Torsten Frings, 8-Dietmar Hamann, 19-Bernd Schneider, 13-Michael Ballack, 17-Marco Bode; 11- Miroslav Klose, 9- Carsten Jancker

Cameroon (5-3-2): 1-Boukar Alioum; 2-Bill Tchato, 3-Pierre Wome, 4-Rigobert Song, 5-Raymond Kalla, 8-Geremi; 12-Lauren, 17-Marc- Vivien Foe, 23-Daniel Ngom Kome; 9-Samuel Eto'o,10-Patrick Mboma

Referee: Antonio Lopez Nieto (Spain)

Linesmen: Mohammed Saeed (Maldives)

Jorge Oliveira (Brazil)

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