Cape Town: It's been a strange sort of start to the World Cup for the Netherlands. Without hitting top gear, Bert van Marwijk's side sit pretty at the top of Group E with six points, needing just a draw in their final encounter against Cameroon to book safe passage in first place.
Of course, the Netherlands haven't had the chance to fully express themselves on the pitch yet. In the form of Denmark and Japan they have been faced with two remarkably stuffy sides, yet on each occasion the Oranje have successfully picked up three points, despite being shorn of star man Arjen Robben.
Patience has proven to be a virtue in the Dutch ranks. In both of their opening matches they've had to wait until the second half to make their move, and the Europeans have largely looked comfortable, despite some persistent misgivings about the state of their defence.
Already through to the last 16, the Netherlands have still to secure top spot in their group, and that is what Van Marwijk wants to see come Thursday. "I do take the match against Cameroon very seriously because it is in that match that the team has to show that they have learned. We want to improve in every match," he told FIFA's official website.
With a harmonious camp, the Netherlands are well placed to challenge even the world's best this year and a victory against the Indomitable Lions will ease their passage to their ultimate goal.
While the Dutch get on swimmingly, that has certainly not been the case in the Cameroon camp, which has suffered discord and controversy from the moment Roger Milla criticised star man Samuel Eto’o for not producing his best form for the national side before the tournament.
Though Eto’o ultimately called off a potential strike, the tone was set for the Indomitable Lions, who went into their opening match against Japan with a conservative mindset and were hence defeated 1-0. A technically superior side to their opponents, the lacklustre nature of the Cameroonians and the baffling tactics of coach Paul Le Guen combined to form a frustrating encounter for the Africans.
Against Denmark things got a little better. Cameroon looked a slicker unit going forward, but they were shambolic at the back and were frequently cut open by the European side. Eto'o pounced on a mistake at the other end of the field to strike the opening goal, but the Danes would turn the game around to ensure Cameroon would be the first side knocked out of the competition.
"I have regrets for both matches, but of a different kind. I think they are legitimate regrets however. We were pretty close but we didn't get there in the end," Le Guen lamented after the Denmark game.
Pride is all that is left for the West Africans to play for. Though the Indomitable Lions are still remembered for their fantastic run to the quarter-finals of Italia ’90, they have only flopped since then, winning only one solitary Finals match and crashing out in the group stages on each occasion. Three points against the Netherlands would therefore be a massive source of pleasure.
Team News
Netherlands
Bert van Marwijk wants the players to find their rhythm and will probably stick with the core of the team that played the previous two games.
Gregory van der Wiel and Nigel de Jong have both been booked in the first two games of the group stage and will probably get some rest. Expect Khalid Boulahrouz and Demy de Zeeuw to take their places.
The coach will leave it up to Arjen Robben to decide whether he's ready to play, and it seems likely he will be given half an hour.
There is still no serious injury news. Sander Boschker, the third choice goalkeeper, picked up a knock during training earlier this week, while Eljero Elia and Giovanni van Bronckhorst aren't 100 per cent match fit either. All are available though.
Probable Starting XI: Stekelenburg; Boulahrouz, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, De Zeeuw; Kuyt, Sneijder, Van der Vaart; Van Persie
Cameroon
Paul Le Guen is a coach known for his stubborn approach, but the Frenchman made changes for the better in the Denmark game. Though this fixture is a dead rubber for Cameroon, they will certainly be going all out to chase maximum points, so don’t expect to see a great deal of rotation from their unit.
Probable Starting XI: Souleymanou; Mbia, Nkoulou, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto; Song, Eyong; Geremi, Webo, Emana; Eto’o
Players to watch
Netherlands
Rafael van der Vaart endured a somewhat difficult season with Real Madrid, flitting in and out of the team, but is presently being given a chance to shine due to Arjen Robben’s injury woes. The former Hamburg star will have to raise the level of his game enormously to stand a chance of retaining his spot in the XI come the knockout stages, when Robben will be fully functional.
Cameroon
Geremi is likely to play his last World Cup fixture on Thursday. At 31-years-old, the former Real Madrid player has been a great servant to his national team, turning out for the Indomitable Lions on no less than 116 occasions. For all these caps, he has only once tasted success in a World Cup Finals match, and he will want to experience such a high again in his career.
Prediction
The Dutch will want to make a statement by going through to the last 16 with a perfect record. Against a disjointed Cameroon outfit, who seem to be lacking in confidence in coach Paul Le Guen, the Oranje should be strong enough to claim maximum points.
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