Mexico Vs. Cameroon Betting Odds And Prediction: Who Will Win Their Opening Match Of FIFA World Cup 2014? [POLL]

The second match of group A pits underdogs Mexico and Cameroon against each other. Both teams badly need a win in this opening match if either nation wants to get out of the group. With future matches between Brazil and Croatia looming, three points today could be the key to surviving the group.

To this point, both Mexico and Cameroon have been incredibly inconsistent. Yet at the same time, both countries have shown flashes of greatness. Most recently, El Tri won the 2012 Gold Medal in the London Olympics and absolutely destroyed New Zealand in a two game playoff to go to the 2014 World Cup (9-3 aggregate).

As for Cameroon, despite needing a technicality to make it to the 2014 World Cup, they most recently tied the 2^nd ranked country in the world in Germany 2-2.

Cameroon has encountered many obstacles both on and off the field since qualifying for the World Cup and I believe that these off the field issues will hinder their ability to focus for 90 minutes against a slightly more polished Mexican team.

Samuel Eto’o is the only player on the Cameroon side that can lead his nation to victory, but to do so he will have to attack a new look El Tri squad under coach, Migel Herrera and his newly installed 5-3-2 defense that should be able to securely contain Eto’o.

Oribe Peralta has scored eight goals in his last six appearances for El Tri and if he and Giovani dos Santos are able to play anything like they did at the 2012 London Olympics, then Mexico should have no problem defeating a powerful yet, uncreative Cameroon team.

Mexico has proven to be a Jekyll and Hyde team over the past two years, but when they are good, their offense is attacking and relentless. When they are bad, they are downright awful. When Mexico changed coaches to Miguel Herrera, the country hoped he would rejuvenate the team and lead them to the glory days of old. While it may not happen in this tournament, I believe Mexico will show up for this game.

Watch for Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez to substitute into the game late, and play angry from Coach Herrera’s decision to not put him in the starting lineup. I think he scores a goal late and leads El Tri to victory.

My Prediction: Mexico has never beaten a team from Africa in World Cup history. After a tight 1-1 game for most of the match, Chicharito scores for Mexico and the game ends 2-1 Mexico.

Betting odds courtesy of Bovada.lv:

Mexico: Pick (-190) +110 Moneyline
Cameroon: Pick (+160) +275 Moneyline
Draw +225