ACTUALITE |
12.06.2002
Cameroon elimination undeserved - Mboma
SHIZUOKA
Former J-League player Patrick Mboma`s return to Japan ended here Tuesday when African champions Cameroon crashed to a 2-0 defeat to three-time champions Germany and out of the World Cup.
Germany finished top of Group E with seven points from two wins and a draw, ahead of Ireland, who defeated Saudi Arabia 3-0 to take second place with five points from one win and two draws.
Cameroon ended with a 1-1-1 record for four points ahead of Saudi Arabia with three defeats.
"Cameroon`s ambition ended at the beginning," said Mboma, the most famous player from Cameroon in the World Cup host country where he made a J-League record of the fastest season-opening goal in 26 seconds in 1997.
"Because it`s not so important for us to just play, we are here to try to do something great and we are really disappointed."
"It`s difficult to answer now, because I`m upset. I think we missed something in all three games. You don`t have to think about that, I mean, we just accept the fact that we are out of the competition.
"I think Cameroon don`t deserve that. But that`s life, there`s nothing to do about it. I`m thinking of the future now. I`m going to forget all about it and take a vacation," added the 31-year-old striler, scorer in their first match here.
Goalkeeper Jacques Songoo said: "We needed more chances. It was a deception to retire after the first round. Everybody knew our tactics. We continued to play the same way."
German coach Winfried Schafer was frustrated as his side failed to capitalise on almost 40 minutes played with an extra man.
"It should`ve been visible that we had the extra man. I told the players to play over the flanks but they didn`t. We conceded a lot of possession in the middle and that`s how the first German goal arrived.
"(Carsten) Ramelow`s sending off was decisive. I`d have rather he`d stayed on and (Samuel) Eto`o score," Ramelow having fouled the Cameroon striker as he bore down on goal.
"If we`d beaten Ireland in the first game we`d have made it," added Schafer as he reflected on a 1-1 draw in the opening match against the Irish.
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