Rocky arrival

Cameroon tries to focus on Ireland match

NAKATSUE, Japan (AP) -- Kicking off its World Cup campaign Saturday against Ireland, Cameroon will discover if it has shaken off its rocky start in Japan and its disastrous showings at the last two tournaments.

In addition to internal problems, Cameroon faces a tricky match against Ireland, a team it has never played. Cameroon knows it can pull upsets, recalling the 1-0 victory over Italy in its 1990 World Cup opener.

The Irish can too, witness a 1-0 shock over Italy in their '94 opener.

"They are a very dangerous team," said Olympic Lyon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe. "This game against Ireland is very important for us.

"The first match will determine our level in the competition, our mind set. And it will show our desire to win and gain results in the first round."

Cameroon's buildup to the finals has been peppered with obstacles -- including pay disputes and air travel delays -- meaning the team arrived five days late in Japan.

Added to that is the uneasy memory of its last two World Cup finals, having crashed out in the opening rounds in 1994 and 1998.

"This will be the most important game for us," said Arsenal utility man Lauren. "It is here we'll set the pace ... to gain the confidence to win the following games.

"I look forward to Saturday for that reason."

On its way to Japan, Cameroon was delayed in Paris, where players reportedly refused to fly because of a disagreement over players' bonuses.

Their Cameroon Airlines flight was then delayed in Bangkok for six hours while it obtained permission to fly over Vietnam and the Philippines.

Ireland is dealing with turmoil of its own after star midfielder Roy Keane was kick off the team.

The Irish were left confused and uneasy after Man United's Keane was sent home last week for verbally attacking coach Mick McCarthy in front of the team, reportedly questioning the coach's competence.

As a result, the Irish are a man-short with FIFA rejecting their appeal to replace Keane's spot on the 23-man roster. Keane's departure was not injury related, which FIFA says it must be to add a man.

Though Keane's departure may give Cameroon a boost, the African champions are still leery.

"The absence of Roy Keane is important to Ireland and they must resolve this somehow," said Cameroon defender Lucien Mettomo, who could find himself facing Manchester City teammate Richard Dunne in Saturday's contest, the second match of the tournament after France vs. Senegal on Friday.

"But it doesn't change anything for us. In fact, it could make things very difficult for us. It might only bring Ireland together, make them more determined and concentrated."

Lack of concentration could prove to be Cameroon's downfall as the Africans also face other Group E matches against Germany and Saudia Arabia.

Though team unity, newfound maturity, individual talent and physical strength have led to success over the past couple of years, Cameroon is notorious for playing only 89 minutes.

Only last Sunday it blew a 2-1 lead over England in a friendly when Robbie Fowler scored in the last minute of injury time.

Two-time reigning African champions and Olympic gold medalists in Sydney, Cameroon has lost once all year, in a friendly against Denmark earlier this month.

Cameroon could bring a 3-5-2 formation against the Irish, but McCarthy said he's going to stick with Ireland's tried-and-tested 4-4-2 that got them through a tough qualifying run in which they knocked out the mighty Dutch team.