SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Denmark and Cameroon looking for first win as they prepare to face each in Group E
Record ID:
453799
SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Denmark and Cameroon looking for first win as they prepare to face each in Group E
- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2010: Denmark and Cameroon looking for first win as they prepare to face each in Group E
- Date: 19th June 2010
- Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 18, 2010) (REUTERS) CAMEROON FLAG FLAGS HANGING IN STADIUM GENERAL VIEW OF FIELD AT LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM CAMEROON COACH PAUL LE GUEN ON FIELD VARIOUS OF CAMEROON PLAYERS TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAMEROON COACH, PAUL LE GUEN, SAYING: "I think they need to face up to their responsibilities, as I assume my responsibilities 100% without any reservation. I put the team together, I decide on tactics, but they also have their responsibilities. They have to find their spirit, they often talk about us as lions, about having a lion spirit and I hope very much they find this spirit in the match tomorrow." SOCCER BALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) CAMEROON STRIKER, SAMUEL ETO'O, SAYING: "We have never had a fight in the national team and I'm one of the people involved, there has never been a fight within the Cameroonian team. There has never been a fight within the Cameroonian team and I know that my team and my coach trust me as a captain." DENMARK FLAG VARIOUS OF DENMARK TRAINING (SOUNDBITE) (German) DENMARK COACH, MORTEN OLSEN, SAYING: "I believe that every player is important. It is quite clear for instance that Nicklas Bendtner is very important for us. He wasn't 100% percent fit against the Netherlands, he only played 60 minutes, he couldn't play 90 minutes, perhaps he can play 90 minutes, I don't know, but he is important to us, that is quite true." VARIOUS OF DENMARK TRAINING
- Embargoed: 4th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA471FGOUG7L7SBFR5I2WPXGUVR
- Story Text: Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen bowed on Friday (June 18) to the demands of his senior players to change his starting line up but warned he would not take all the flack as his team needed to accept their own failings.
Cameroon's World Cup had appeared in disarray in recent days after players openly questioned Le Guen's selection for their opening match which they lost 1-0 to Japan, the supposed group whipping boys.
Captain Samuel Eto'o, one of Africa's most successful players, was also quieter than normal after playing in a deeper role, prompting the players to urge Le Guen to rethink his plans for the next Group E match against Denmark on Saturday (June 19).
Frenchman Le Guen, who had previously won praise for guiding Cameroon through qualification, then went on to say it was time his players also admitted their role in the poor performance because they were now in a state of emergency.
"I think they need to face up to their responsibilities, as I assume my responsibilities 100% without any reservation. I put the team together, I decide on tactics, but they also have their responsibilities. They have to find their spirit, they often talk about us as lions, about having a lion spirit and I hope very much they find this spirit in the match tomorrow," said Le Guen.
Eto'o, who said he would be playing further up the pitch and as close to the goalmouth as possible, said his side had taken heart from Serbia who failed in their first match but won their second.
The three-time winner of the African Footballer of the Year also said he wanted to make it clear there had never been a major row in the Cameroon camp.
"We have never had a fight in the national team and I'm one of the people involved, there has never been a fight within the Cameroonian team. There has never been a fight within the Cameroonian team and I know that my team and my coach trust me as a captain," he said.
The side, nicknamed the Indomitable Lions, will play Denmark in Pretoria's Loftus Versfed Stadium, with both sides desperately needing a win after Denmark crashed out 2-0 in their opening tie against the Netherlands.
Denmark have never lost to an African side at the World Cup, with a win and two draws in previous meetings, but they are struggling with injuries.
The Danes have not scored in their last three matches and coach Morten Olsen will be hoping striker Nicklas Bendtner, who played for just over an hour against the Dutch despite a groin problem, will be fit.
"I believe that every player is important. It is quite clear for instance that Nicklas Bendtner is very important for us. He wasn't 100% percent fit against the Netherlands, he only played 60 minutes, he couldn't play 90 minutes, perhaps he can play 90 minutes, I don't know, but he is important to us, that is quite true," he said.
Young defender Simon Kjaer (knee) and midfielder Daniel Jensen (Achilles) are also suffering with nagging injuries. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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