Repeat or revenge?

Cameroon faces Colombia in '90 World Cup rematch

LYON, France (AP) -- Eric Kwekeu remembers the last time Cameroon played Colombia.

He was 10 years old and watched on television as Roger Milla scored in overtime, giving the Indomitable Lions a 2-1 win and the first spot for an African team in the World Cup quarterfinals.

"After the match, we went out on the street making a lot of noise," Kwekeu said Tuesday. "In Cameroon, we love football so much."

Fans danced until dawn in the streets of Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, after the big win in the second round of the World Cup on June 23, 1990. Milla, then 38, came out of retirement to play in the tournament and scored twice against the South Americans, raising his tournament total to four.

"It was just a big party," said Cameroon captain Lucien Mettomo, who was 13 at the time.

Forward Valery Mezague was just 6 years old and lived in France.

"I remember the two goals of Roger Milla," he said. "I saw the match with my family in my home."

The meeting on Thursday won't be as important, coming in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup. The winner advances to Sunday's final against defending tournament champion France or Turkey.

In 1990, Cameroon was a soccer outsider, a 500-1 shot to win the World Cup. But the Lions upset defending champion Argentina 1-0 in the opener, then beat Romania 2-1 and won their group.

While the Indomitable Lions lost to England 3-2 in overtime in the quarterfinals, their performance gave a huge boost to African soccer, one that led to many top clubs signing Africa's stars in the 1990s.

Cameroon hasn't gotten past the first round since then, winning just one of nine matches and tying four. Meanwhile, other African nations have improved, Nigeria advanced to the second round in 1994, and Senegal upset defending champion France at last year's tournament, then advanced to the quarterfinals before losing in overtime to Turkey.

Like the other teams in this tournament, Cameroon isn't at full strength and is looking ahead.

"The object is to create a new team," coach Winnie Schaefer said through a translator. "The goal is to qualify the team for the African Cup of Nations and the 2006 World Cup in Germany."

Still, Cameroon is taking Thursday's game seriously. The team left downtown Lyon on Tuesday to train near Saint-Etienne.

"We need quiet," Schaefer said.

Colombia seeks glory, revenge

LYON, France (AP) -- Watch out for Colombia.

Eager to silence its critics and bag some silverware, the South American champion is not taking the Confederations Cup lightly as it prepares for Thursday's semifinal against Cameroon.

"We are aiming to reach the big final," said Inter Milan midfielder and captain Ivan Cordoba.

Failing to make last year's World Cup finals was a heavy blow for the Colombians.

But now its celebrated coach Francisco Maturana is back at the helm and its clubs are once again among South America's elite.

Maturana guided Colombia to the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and victory in the 2001 Copa America, the country's first.

Maturana hopes that the recent string of impressive results by Colombian clubs in the Copa Libertadores tournament, where America de Cali and Independiente Medellin made it to the semifinals, will give his team an edge at the Confederations Cup.

"Match by match, the Colombian players are getting closer to their best form," Maturana said.

Giovanni Hernandez has emerged as a driving force behind the Colombian side.

The playmaker with Deportivo Cali has scored twice -- half Colombia's tally so far -- and is out to prove his detractors wrong.

"I've always had to put up with a lot of criticism," Hernandez said, complaining fans insisted on comparing him to the great Carlos Valderrama who served as the captain of Colombia's national team in three World Cups.

"My skills are on display on the pitch and that's the best response I can give."

The 27-year-old is also looking to impress in France so he can secure a place at a European club.

"My style of play has been appreciated here in France and that makes me feel good," he said.

The Colombians are aware, though, that Cameroon will stretch them.

The African champion struck late in the game to beat Brazil and Turkey, exploiting lapses in concentration.

"Cameroon is a team that sits back in defense and then counter-attacks," Hernandez said.

"We'll be facing a team of great physical strength, with a great soccer history. We need to use our slick passing game. That's the way for us to get to a goal."

Cordoba recommends cool heads for the game in Lyon.

"Against Cameroon we have to play with patience throughout the 90 minutes. We don't need to rush things," he said.

For Cordoba, who was suspended against Japan but returns for the semifinal, the match is an opportunity to make good for Colombia's defeat against Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. That 2-1 loss after extra-time knocked the South Americans out of the tournament.

"Actually, Cameroon is a team we wanted to meet here," Cordoba said. "This is our chance to get revenge for the loss in Italy."

 

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