Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura has one of the best long-ball touches in the world. Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura has one of the best long-ball touches in the world. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Day 4, Match 2

Japan vs. Cameroon, Group E

Location

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Broadcast details

Live on CBC and CBCSports.ca (9:30 a.m. ET). Consult CBC's full broadcast schedule.

What's at stake

If Cameroon wants to progress into the knockout round, it would do well to pick up three points against Japan. The Blue Samurai also need a win, if they want to reach coach Takeshi Okada's extremely lofty semifinal goal.

Rogers Pre-game Show

Watch the Rogers Pre-game show 30 minutes before kick-off as our panel of soccer experts provide up-to-the-minute news from South Africa on this match.

To watch the show, CLICK HERE

Injuries and suspensions

No injuries for either team.

Player to watch for Japan

Shunsuke Nakamura — Japan's most popular and recognizable player, the left-footed Nakamura has a long-ball touch that rivals the best in the business, and his precise accuracy from dead ball situations can conjure goals out of thin air.

Player to watch for Cameroon

Samuel Eto'o — He's come under some harsh (undeserved?) criticism from national team great Roger Milla, but it's hard to deny that Eto'o is still the class of Cameroon. The 29-year-old already holds the nation's all-time mark for goals (44), and his blazing speed keeps defenders awake at night.

Key matchup

Nakamura vs. Eto'o — These are the two players that will have the most impact on the match. Japan will live and die by Nakamura's foot, while Cameroon is nigh invincible when Eto'o scores. The game could come down to Nakamura's playmaking skills and deadly free kicks in midfield going up against the pace and surgical precision of Eto'o in front of the goal.

Japanese perspective

''If we attack the opponents where it hurts them most, it will lead to scoring chances. We want to give all we have as this event takes place just once in four years." — midfielder Keisuke Honda

Cameroonian perspective

"[We] are almost ready and we should not focus too much on last two outings. The most important thing is that we approach the World Cup in a better state of mind and with a lot of commitment." — striker Eric Choupo Moting

World Cup head-to-head

This will be the first meeting at the World Cup between the two sides.

All time head-to-head

  • Games played: 3
  • Japan: 2 wins, 0 losses, 1 draw
  • Cameroon: 0 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw
  • Goals: Japan 4, Cameroon 0
  • Last match: Japan defeated Cameroon 2-0 in a 2-0 friendly in Oita