sábado, 28 de junho de 2014

Brazil 3 X 2 Chile

Hosts Brazil knocked Chile out of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in the second round with a 3-2 win on penalties.
Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez had penalties saved, before Gonzalo Jara missed the crucial final kick.
During the game itself, David Luiz gave Brazil the lead when he bundled in after Thiago Silva had flicked on Neymar's corner.
Chile equalised when Eduardo Vargas pounced on a defensive error and fed Alexis Sanchez who poked in.
Brazil's Hulk also had a goal disallowed in the second half when English assistant referee Michael Mullarkey judged the striker to have handled Marcelo's pass.
More to follow.
Brazil fans at Copacabana beach in Rio
Brazil fans at Rio's Copacabana beach celebrate their side's opening goal
Brazil team celebrate opening goal
And the Brazil team celebrated like their supporters inside the Estadio Mineirao
Alexis Sanchez celebrates his goal
Sanchez's equaliser was his fifth goal in his last six competitive games for Chile
English referee Howard Webb and Brazil's Neymar
English referee Howard Webb (left) handled several protests from the players
Brazil's Hulk
Brazil's Hulk protests to assistant referee Michael Mullarkey about the disallowed goal
Hulk penalty is saved by Claudio Bravo
And when it came to the shootout he had a penalty saved by Claudio Bravo
Brazil players celebrate after Gonzalo Jara misses the final penalty
But Jara missed final spot-kick to give the hosts a thrilling and tense win

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (7) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

Brazil

  • 12 Julio César
  • 02 Dani Alves Booked
  • 06 Marcelo
  • 17 Luiz Gustavo Booked
  • 03 Thiago Silva
  • 04 David Luiz
  • 11 Oscar (Willian - 105' )
  • 05 Fernandinho (Ramires - 72' )
  • 09 Fred (Jô - 64' Booked )
  • 10 Neymar
  • 07 Hulk Booked

Substitutes

  • 01 Jefferson
  • 08 Paulinho
  • 13 Dante
  • 14 Maxwell
  • 15 Henrique
  • 16 Ramires
  • 18 Hernanes
  • 19 Willian
  • 20 Bernard
  • 21 Jô
  • 22 Victor
  • 23 Maicon

Chile

  • 01 Bravo
  • 04 Isla
  • 02 Mena Booked
  • 18 Jara
  • 17 Medel (Rojas - 108' )
  • 05 Silva Booked
  • 20 Aránguiz
  • 21 Díaz
  • 08 Vidal (Pinilla - 87' Booked )
  • 07 Sánchez
  • 11 Vargas (Gutierrez - 57' )

Substitutes

  • 03 Albornoz
  • 06 Carmona
  • 09 Pinilla
  • 10 Valdívia
  • 12 Toselli
  • 13 Rojas
  • 14 Orellana
  • 15 Beausejour
  • 16 Gutierrez
  • 19 Fuenzalida
  • 22 Paredes
  • 23 Herrera
Ref: Howard Webb
Att: 57,714

MATCH STATS


Possession52%48%120minsBrazilChile

Shots

2313

On target

62

Corners

95

Fouls

2823

Live Text Commentary

Full time
Full TimeMatch ends, Brazil 1(3), Chile 1(2).
120:00+7:48
Penalty Shootout ends, Brazil 1(3), Chile 1(2).
120:00+7:47
Penalty missed! Still Brazil 1(3), Chile 1(2). Gonzalo Jara (Chile) hits the right post with a right footed shot.
120:00+6:57Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Brazil 1(3), Chile 1(2). Neymar (Brazil) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
120:00+6:00Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Brazil 1(2), Chile 1(2). Marcelo Díaz (Chile) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
120:00+5:02
Penalty saved! Hulk (Brazil) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, left footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
120:00+4:17Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Brazil 1(2), Chile 1(1). Charles Aránguiz (Chile) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
120:00+3:33Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Brazil 1(2), Chile 1. Marcelo (Brazil) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top right corner.
120:00+2:49
Penalty saved! Alexis Sánchez (Chile) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
120:00+2:04
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Willian (Brazil) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Willian should be disappointed.
120:00+1:17
Penalty saved! Mauricio Pinilla (Chile) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
120:00+0:32Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Brazil 1(1), Chile 1. David Luiz (Brazil) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
120:00Penalty shootout
Penalty Shootout begins Brazil 1, Chile 1.
120:00+2:00
Second Half Extra Time ends, Brazil 1, Chile 1.
120:00+0:58
Attempt missed. Ramires (Brazil) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Willian following a corner.
120:00+0:21
Corner, Brazil. Conceded by José Rojas.
119:44
Mauricio Pinilla (Chile) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Alexis Sánchez.
118:58
Attempt missed. Hulk (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luiz Gustavo.
117:07
Marcelo (Brazil) wins a free kick on the left wing.
117:07
Foul by Felipe Gutierrez (Chile).

terça-feira, 24 de junho de 2014

Cameroon X Brazil: World Cup 2014 – as it happened

Neymar was the star on an occasionally fraught but ultimately comfortable evening for the hosts, who will face Chile in the second round

Cameroon 1 Brazil 4

World Cup 2014
Cameroon
  • Joel Matip 26
Brazil
  • Junior Neymar 17, 
  • Junior Neymar 34, 
  • Guedes Fred 49, 
  • Luis Fernandinho 84
Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring against Cameroon.
Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring against Cameroon. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty

FULL TIME: Cameroon 1-4 Brazil

And that's that. Brazil deserved the win, though 4-1 is harsh on Cameroon, who were extremely lively in the first half and seriously worried the hosts for a while. They go home having salvaged their reputation after a poor first pair of games. The real difference tonight was provided by Neymar, who calmed Brazil twice when the nerves were really starting to jangle. They'll go on to face Chile in the second round, though Alexis Sanchez may be licking his lips in anticipation of running at this Brazilian defence, which doesn't look good enough to win a World Cup to me. But we'll see: perhaps they can do the time-honoured Brazilian thing of scoring more than they concede. Hey, it worked well enough in 1958 and 1970.
Anyway, let's not rain on their parade. It's a celebratory mood in Brazil tonight, with the hosts making it to the second round with the best performance of their World Cup so far. Certainly the most entertaining one, anyway. And to illustrate the national happiness, the final word of this report goes to Frederico Dalton, who has penned the nicest email that's ever been sent to a Guardian MBM. "Sometimes it feels very good to be a Brazilian. This year has been a difficult one for us, though: all the demonstrations, all the bad news about the preparation, the delays. But now it is all so wonderful! I so much enjoy having the tourists here in Rio. That is so beautiful. I am sorry for England. But please do feel proud: all the joy we are are experiencing right now would not have been possible if your countrymen had not invented this fabulous sport."
Updated 
90 min +2: Willian in space down the left. He looks to sidefoot one into the bottom right from the edge of the box, but Itandje isn't going to be beaten like that.
90 min: There will be four added minutes.
88 min: A long Cameroon punt down the middle. Webo troubles Luiz a bit, though the Brazilian defender eventually mops up.
86 min: Top spot's a done deal for Brazil. Croatia have themselves a consolation goal against Mexico: 3-1.

GOAL!!! Cameroon 1-4 Brazil (Fernandinho 84)

The pressure's off Brazil, too. Mexico had just gone 3-0 up against Croatia. One more goal for them, and they'd top the group! But suddenly relief. A loose Cameroon pass from a quickly taken free kick deep in their own half. Some rat-a-tat triangulation, and Fernandinho's clear in the box down the left! He sends a laser-guided effort across Itandje and into the bottom right! Surely the Brazilians will have top spot now. And they'll avoid the Dutch, which is good news for the hosts because I'd imagine this defence wouldn't hold up too brilliantly against Arjen Robben.
Brazil's midfielder Fernandinho strikes and scores the fourth...
Brazil's midfielder Fernandinho strikes and scores the fourth... Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty
....and sets up a second round match against Chile.
....and sets up a second round match against Chile. Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty
Updated 
82 min: Anyway, after a lengthy stoppage for running repairs to Gustavo, and that Cameroon sub, the free kick, 35 yards out, down the left channel. Dani Alves blasts a fairly witless effort straight into the wall. Deflected. From the corner, Webo is clattered on the lug by Luiz. The pressure's off Cameroon.
81 min: Choupo-Moting is replaced by Makoun.
80 min: Mbia is booked for upending Gustavo, who was making good along the inside-left channel with some haste.
79 min: Willian tries to find Fred in the middle, but the cross is deflected and the striker's offside.
77 min: It's just a pleasant kickabout now, this. Mbia threatens to break down the inside-left channel, but there's no real purpose in his romp.
74 min: Salli is booked for toe-punting Dani Alves on the instep. Ooyah, oof.
72 min: A change for Cameroon, too, with Aboubakar - a player who's put in a decent shift in this game, his last act a delightful little backheel from the centre circle that sent Salli into acres of space down the left and momentarily wrongfooted the hosts - being replaced by Webo.
71 min: Neymar jars his knee a little, and Scolari is taking no chances. The striker looks fine, in that he's wandering off the field without limping or grimacing, but he's instantly replaced by Willian. Precautionary, and very sensible. Neymar has been excellent this evening.
Brazil's Neymar cries in pain after colliding with Cameroon's Joel Matip.
Brazil's Neymar cries in pain after colliding with Cameroon's Joel Matip. Photograph: Andre Penner/AP
Updated 
70 min: It's end to end, if we don't count either final third. First Salli has a probe down the left, then Neymar embarks on a skitter down the middle. But both young men are soon stopped in their tracks.
Brazil's midfielder Oscar is tackled by Mbia.
Brazil's midfielder Oscar is tackled by Mbia. Photograph: Francois Xavier Marit/AFP/Getty
Updated 
68 min: Neymar should be clear in the Cameroon area, straight down the middle. But he's overly eager to reach Ramires's low crossfield pass from the right, and is rightly flagged offside. The hat-trick will have to wait.
66 min: Brazil would obviously like another goal or two, but there's a sense that everyone's happy enough at the moment. Brazil are back in winning ways, while Cameroon have put on a decent show. No real urgency being shown by either side.
63 min: Ramires comes on for Hulk.
62 min: Neymar attempts to burst past Nyom down the left with a sassy snatch of skill, gripping the ball between his feet and jumping. But instead of attempting a simple Cuauhtemiña, the rabbit hop patented by Mexico's Cuauhtémoc Blanco back in the 1990s, he looks to run the ball up the back of his heel while in mid-air and flick it over his head. It doesn't come off, and Nyom rather refreshingly clips him round the lug for his cheek as the two jog back upfield. Neymar doesn't look happy about it, but if you try these things, this is what's going to happen.
60 min: Fernandinho is spoken to by the referee after a little tug on Salli's shoulder. He's in real danger of going in the official's little book soon, if he's not careful.
59 min: Cameroon make a change: Moukandjo is replaced by the Lens winger Edgar Salli.
56 min: Brazil are stroking it around the back. The jangling nerves seem a long time ago now. Contentment reigns.
54 min: Fernandinho clatters into Bedimo, as the busy left back looks to make ground down the wing. Not the greatest challenge you'll ever see. Bedimo does an awful lot of rolling around.
52 min: Brazil appear to be in the mood to blow away a few cobwebs. They're coming forward in waves. Waves. Anyone for more Tom Jobim?

GOL!!! GOL DO FRED!!! Cameroon 1-3 Brazil (Fred 49)

Space for Gustavo down the left. The ball's clipped to the right post, where Fred slaps a header home from six yards! He's a yard offside, but the decision goes his way. As the ball nestles into the right-hand side of the net, Fred goes off on a bomb around the stadium. Relief? I should say so.
Fred scores his first for the tournament...
Fred scores his first for the tournament... Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty
...and celebrates accordingly.
...and celebrates accordingly. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty
Updated 
48 min: A fast start to this half all right. Fred has a whack from distance, his low fizzer going in at the bottom left but palmed out of play by Itandje. Brilliant save. Then from the corner, Enoh body checks Neymar down the left and should see his second yellow, but the ref is lenient. From the free kick, Neymar's dipping shot from the wing is tipped over. And from the resulting corner ...
47 min: Two early chances for Hulk. He kicks the ball against his own ankle and out of play when clear down the right. Then moments later he's free down the middle, but Bedimo tackles him in the penalty box brilliantly. If that was mistimed, Cameroon were in all sorts of trouble.
We're off again! A change for Brazil. Fernandinho is on for the very poor Paulinho. Cameroon get the ball rolling again, and then test it for pressure by blasting it into orbit. After 10 seconds, it falls back to earth, and is gathered by Julio Cesar. Meanwhile for those of you who likebowing, scraping and furiously tugging your forelock celebrity spotting, Prince Harry's in the crowd at this game. Here he is behind a balcony, striking the sort of stiff-backed pose favoured by your old-fashioned despots. I'm sure he'll look more relaxed when he rocks up at Wimbledon in a few days, as part of what must be a very gruelling schedule.
Prince Harry in the crowd
No Brazil shirt in Prince Harry's goody bag, by the looks of it. Po' Prince Harry!
The Guardian half-time spa: I recommend a little reset and relaxation during the break, as that was rather more hectic than anyone could have reasonably anticipated. Kári Tulinius has sent in his favourite version of the aforementioned Águas de Março, and very calming it is too. Listen to Elis Regina do her silky thing ...
... while wishing you were by a pool in Italy like Roger Milla. Close your eyes and drift away; just set your alarm for ten minutes, eh?
Milla at Italia 90
Milla at Italia 90

HALF TIME: Cameroon 1-2 Brazil

An absurd, topsy-turvy half ends with Neymar, Oscar and Fred ripping Cameroon open down the left with pretty little first-time triangles. They feed Hulk, who's clear in the area, down the left. But he's close to goal, there's not much time or room to play with, and his clumsy scuff is parried by Itandje. The corner's wasted, and that's the end to the opening 45.
43 min: Paulinho misplaces another pass, and Enoh is able to make good for the Brazilian box, down the middle of the park. Luiz is forced to cynically hack him down. That should be a yellow, but there's no card. It is a free kick, though, 30 yards from goal. Moukandjo pitching-wedges the ball into the area, whereupon a minor stramash breaks out. Eventually Dani Alves blooters clear, but once again the home defence didn't look particularly secure.
41 min: The Brasilia crowd are much happier right now. There was some genuine concern back there, with Cameroon briefly in the ascendency. Cameroon don't appear to be in any sort of mood to give up the ghost quite yet, mind you, despite going behind again. What a dismal showing in their first two games, a shame they didn't perform like this earlier. They're demob happy today, anyway.
39 min: Nyom embarks on what can only be described as a Garrinchian wander down the right. It's a baroque ramble, beating four men! Then he blooters a deep cross to the far post, where Dani Alves is forced to dispatch the ball behind for a corner. Moukandjo has a dig from distance at the taking of the resulting set piece, billowing the side netting, Julio Cesar always covering.
37 mins: Hulk has a batter towards goal from 25 yards. It's heading into the bottom left, a really decent whack, but Itandje is down well to parry round the post. From the resulting corner, Luiz can't guide the header goalwards.

GOAL!!! Cameroon 1-2 Brazil (Neymar 35)

They might not be so worried now. And this is brilliant. A long rake down the left for Brazil, and the ball eventually breaks to Neymar. He drifts inside, a dip of the hip and some glide in his stride, and upon reaching the left-hand side of the D, fires a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, Itandje wrongfooted, everyone expecting the striker to continue on his way to the right. Another world-class finish, and that's four in three games for Neymar!
Brazil's Neymar scores his fourth of the tournament.
Neymar scores his fourth of the tournament... Photograph: David Gray/Reuters
Brazil's Neymar celebrates puting Brazil back in front, scoring his second.
...and celebrates putting Brazil back in front. Photograph: Michael Dalder/Reuters
Updated 
33 min: Not exactly. Moukandjo's delivery ends up at the feet of Mbia, on the edge of the area, to the left of goal. Mbia looks for the top right, and that was whistling goalwards in a very dangerous manner. Fortunately for Brazil, the ball's deflected out, and the next corner comes to naught. But these are very worrying signs for the hosts.
32 min: Nyom and Mbia triangulate down the right, forcing a panicked Luiz to intercept. But he can only slice out for a corner. Can Brazil deal with this one better?
29 min: Bedimo is in space down the left, and he's released towards the box by a lovely sliderule pass from Moukandjo. But he went too soon. Offside. Brazil are very worried, and all over the shop at the back. Have they started thinking the unthinkable?

STADIUM SILENCING GOAL!!! Cameroon 1-1 Brazil (Matip 26)

The ball's shifted right to left. Nyom is allowed to break through a pathetic tackle by Dani Alves down the wing. He's in acres of space! He romps into the box and fires a low cross through the six-yard box, where Matip sidefoots home from close range!
Cameroon's Joel Matip scores and silences the Mane Garrincha National Stadium.
Cameroon's Joel Matip scores and silences the Mane Garrincha National Stadium. Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
Matip celebrates the shock equaliser
Matip celebrates the shock equaliser. Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
Updated 
24 min: Cameroon were looking good for a while before the goal, and they make it upfield again, Enoh jigging down the inside-right and shooting, the ball deflecting off Dani Alves and out for a corner. From that corner, Matip sees a header deflected onto the right-hand angle of crossbar and post, off Luiz for another corner. From which ...
Updated 
21 min: This is also in danger of turning into a masterclass of comedy from Fred. Paulinho enters the Cameroon box down the left. He's in acres. A low ball towards the big striker, six yards out. Fred falls over. He first tries to nudge the ball goalwards with his buttocks, then lunges to nut it over the line while on all fours. But Itandje, in a DH Lawrence style tangle with him on the floor, gets to the loose ball first. What slapstick nonsense. I'm beginning to feel for Fred now, he's so desperate to score and get his critics off his back, his motor skills have gone.
Fred tries to get the ball over the line.
Fred tries to force the ball over the line but fails. Photograph: David Gray/Reuters
Updated 
20 min: This is already in danger of turning into a masterclass from Neymar, who meets a dropping ball on the edge of the Cameroon area, just to the left of the D. He swings a lazy left leg, and volleys gorgeously goalwards. The ball's going to crash into the net, just under the bar, but Itandje parries into the air, and Cameroon clear.

GOAL!!! Cameroon 0-1 Brazil (Neymar 17)

Brazil pressurise Cameroon down the left wing. Gustavo takes up possession and romps down the touchline. He whips a low ball into the area. Neymar opens up his body and guides a first-time sidefoot into the bottom-right corner, Itandje rooted to the spot! Such a delicate, precise finish! That's a lovely touch. Note to Cameroon: do not irritate Neymar.
Neymar guides the ball into the back of the net.
Neymar guides the ball into the back of the net... Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty
He celebrates his third goal of the tournament.
...and he celebrates his third goal of the tournament. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty
Updated 
15 min: Haw. Some old-school tactics from Nyom. He's chasing a long Brazilian punt down the left, with Neymar. The ball goes out of play. Nyom shoves Neymar into the bank of photographers behind the goal, just because he can, and to show him who's boss. Bad idea, though, because ...
Brazil's forward Neymar is pushed into the bank of photographers by Nyom.
Brazil's forward Neymar is pushed into the bank of photographers by Nyom. Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty
Updated 
14 min: A free kick for Cameroon, in the middle of the Brazilian half. Moukandjo launches it into the Brazil area. He very nearly finds the head of Aboubakar, six yards out, but the ball flies through to Julio Cesar, on the line. Any touch there, and it was an opening goal, because the Brazilian defence were sleeping there. Where were Thiago Silva and Luiz? Not anywhere near making a clearing header, that's for sure.
13 min: The Estadio Nacional in Brasilia is a fairly quiet and anxious place right now. Because Cameroon are on top right now. Aboubakar rolls a pass down the left for Choupo-Moting, who fires low into the area from near the byline. Luiz is forced to hack clear. Brazil started very strongly indeed, but they're looking nervous at the moment.
11 min: Enoh is booked for a pretty damn clumsy scissor challenge on Luiz. It wasn't full-blooded, and there seemed no malice. But it deserved censure.
Cameroon's Enoh Eyong takes out Marcelo.
Cameroon's Enoh Eyong takes out Marcelo. Photograph: Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters
Updated 
9 min: Brazil don't look particularly solid at the back. Enoh goes on a wander down the left, and sends a low cross into the area. It's deflected back to Aboubakar, on the edge of the box. He's got time to take a touch and lamp a shot towards the right-hand side of the Brazilian goal. Not totally sure Julio Cesar would have got to it, but fortunately for Brazil, Thiago Silva is there to block. The resulting corner is a waste of time, but that will worry the Brazilians.
7 min: In between those two Fred chances, a half-chance for Cameroon to break clear on the Brazilian goal. Paulinho misplaces a pass in the midfield, and for a second it looks like Aboubakar will have a clear run down the inside-left channel from the centre circle! But the ball gets caught between his boots, and he can't get a steam on. Brazil got away with that one.
5 min: Another Fred shot, another one that's blocked, as he's sent into the area down the right channel by Hulk. But he's getting into positions. It only needs one to go in, doesn't it. The corner's swallowed up by an unchallenged Itandje. "Nice that you mentioned that match in 1975, that Cubillas goal still bring chills in my spine, specially since there's so little to cheer about Peruvian football now," writes Eduardo Villanueva of Lima. "But Brazil didn't play with a full squad in the Copa America that year. For reasons I'm no longer recall, they decided to use only players from Minas Gerais; the match itself was in Belo Horizonte. The reverse fixture in Lima was 2-0 for Brazil and Peru only went through the finals thanks to cheating by Peruvian officials during the drawing of lots."
Cameroon's defender Nicolas Nkoulou and goalkeeper Charles Itandje watch the ball as Fred tries to connect.
Cameroon's defender Nicolas Nkoulou and goalkeeper Charles Itandje watch the ball as Fred tries to connect. Photograph: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty
Updated 
3 min: Fred's misery continues. Neymar and Hulk combine down the right, the latter sprung free into the area. Hulk, to the right of goal, cuts the ball back for Fred, who should send a first-time slapshot into the net, Itandje having followed the ball when Hulk had it down the right. But his shot is snuffed out at source, blocked immediately by Matip.
2 min: Neymar takes, Brazil having loaded the box. The execution is appalling, chipped over every single yellow shirt and cleared easily by N'koulou.
And we're off! Brazil get the ball rolling. And within five seconds launch a Watford-esque long ball down the middle. Cameroon clear. But Brazil are soon coming back at Cameroon, Hulk racing down the right. Bedimo hauls him back by the face, and this is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just outside the Cameroonian area.
The teams are out! Brazil should be wearing the most evocative ensemble in world sport, their famous yellow shirts with green trim and blue shorts. But they're not. White shorts today. NOT ACCEPTABLE. Cameroon meanwhile are resplendent in their lovely green tops, a design classic in its own right, although one that looked even better when an absurdly oversized lion motif took up the entire left tit.
Roger Milla makes a fool of Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita back in 1990. Look at the size of that badge. Gorgeous.
Roger Milla makes a fool of Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita back in 1990. Look at the size of that badge! Gorgeous. Indomitable.
And then the anthems. The snappily titled Brazilian National Anthem is as beautiful as the shirts on their back. A breezy, easy-going bounce, the sound of a diplomat sipping a fruit cup while reclining in the shade wearing a linen suit. All together now: Of the sons of this ground / Thou art gentle mother / Beloved homeland Brazil!
As for Cameroon, the main hook of their Chant de Ralliement is a blatant lift from La Marseillaise. Still, if you're going to lift stuff, you may as well nick from the best shops. Fill your bag with champagne and truffles from Harrods, rather than tins of rocket cider and a scotch egg from the corner store. Sing, people, sing! Land of promise, land of glory / Thou, of life and joy, our only store! / Thine be honour, thine devotion / And deep endearment, for evermore!

Three changes for Cameroon. One enforced: after raking his elbow down the back of Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic and getting himself sent off, Alex Song misses out. Another's sort of enforced: Benoit Assou-Ekotto also sits on the naughty step after planting the nut on his team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo. Aurelien Chedjou also drops to the bench. Henri Bedimo, Allan Nyom and Landry N'Guemo get the call.
Brazil recall Hulk, but that doesn't mean Fred's been packed off to the glue factory. He replaces Ramires, and we're back to the same team Scolari sent out to face Croatia. And didn't that go well. Time for the Fluminense striker to repay his manager's faith. He could do worse than take a little advice from When Saturday Comes illustrator Tim Bradford.[Warning: link contains dangerous earworm that eats into middle of head and refuses to come back out. The Guardian accepts no responsibility for etc., and so on, and so forth]

Tonight's cast and crew

Cameroon: Itandje, Nyom, Matip, N'Koulou, Bedimo, Enoh, Moukandjo, Mbia, N'Guemo, Choupo-Moting, Aboubakar.
Subs: Feudjou, Assou-Ekotto, Djeugoue, Nounkeu, Eto'o, Makoun, Chedjou, Webo, Fabrice, Salli, N'Djock.
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Luiz, Marcelo, Paulinho, Gustavo, Hulk, Oscar, Neymar, Serginho Fred.
Subs: Jefferson, Fernandinho, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Ramires, Hernanes, Willian, Bernard, Jo, Maicon, Victor.
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
Updated 
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil has been a thing of wonder so far.Robin van Persie's header. Lionel Messi's goals. Algeria's first win since 1982. John Brooks's celebration. Andrea Pirlo's crossbar-bothering free kick. Cristiano Ronaldo's neck-saving cross. Thomas Muller's hat-trick. Karim Benzema's futile on-the-stroke-of-full-time stunner. The relentlessness of Alexis Sanchez. The emergence of James Rodriguez. Iran's determination. Guillermo Ochoa's saves. Ghana's quick breaks and spurned chances. Luis Suarez's miracle recovery. Bryan Ruiz, the Pak Doo Ik and Ahn Jung-hwan de nos jours. A stick. A stone. The end of the road. It's a sliver of glass. It is life. It's the sun. And the riverbank talks of the waters of March. It's the end of all strain! It's the joy in your heart!
Antonio Carlos Jobim (c) and Vinicius de Moraes (r), the composers of The Girl from Ipanema, being interviewed in 1967, fuelled by cigarettes and whisky. Having actually referenced Águas de Março, a picture of Tom with Elis Regina would have been better, but this will have to do.
Antonio Carlos Jobim (c) and Vinicius de Moraes (r), the composers of The Girl from Ipanema, being interviewed in 1967, fuelled by cigarettes and whisky. Having actually referenced Águas de Março, a picture of Tom with Elis Regina would have been better, but this will have to do.
Brazil themselves haven't brought much to the party, though. A fortunate, referee-enabled victory against Croatia, then a dismal performance against Mexico, who contained them with ease. The Brazilian public are desperate for their team to put on a show. After all, what's the point in hosting a World Cup if you're not going to excite the rest of the planet with some of the famous samba football? Hell, even a laid-back bossa-nova shuffle will do, providing the team finally find a little rhythm; nobody's expecting the arch pragmatist Luiz Filipe Scolari to turn into João Saldanha all of a sudden.
In that sense, Cameroon, already eliminated, are the perfect opponents tonight. They've been more danger to themselves than anyone else in this campaign. They've threatened to strike over bonus payments. They've got themselves sent off with absurd spine-bothering elbow-rake manoeuvres. They've planted the nut on each other mid-match. And if peppering their own tootsies with buckshot wasn't bad enough, stuff that's out of their control hasn't been going their way either: their star player isn't fit, while they're currently being pestered by Fifa's match-fixing investigators. Poor old Cameroon!
Benjamin Moukandjo and Benoit Assou-Ekotto enjoy a full and frank discussion over the best way to beat Croatia
Benjamin Moukandjo and Benoit Assou-Ekotto enjoy a full and frank discussion over the best way to beat Croatia
This really is a shoo-in for Brazil, the perfect opportunity to find their groove before the knockout stages. On the other hand, if they somehow manage to lose their first competitive home fixture since 1975 - when they went down 3-1 in the Copa America to a Teófilo Cubillas inspired Peru - and get themselves knocked out of the group stage of their own World Cup, the 1950 Maracanaço defeat to Uruguay will suddenly look like glorious salad days. What's "def con one" in Portuguese?
The Seventies pomp of Teofilo Cubillas: tormentor of Brazil, Scotland etc.
Teófilo Cubillas, tormentor of Brazil, Scotland, etc., in his 1970s pomp
Whichever way you slice it, this is Brazil's first defining moment at the 2014 World Cup. So will this be the day when they rediscover the glory game in keeping with their self-image, and send out a message that they're the team to beat at this World Cup? When a Cameroonian stuns Brasilia and relegates Alcides Ghiggia to a footnote in history? Or, most likely, when the home side puts in an unfussy performance that gets the job done, with no questions satisfactorily answered? Only time will tell, but there's one thing we know for certain: it's on!
Kick off: 9pm in London, 5pm in Brasilia, 9pm in Yaoundé.