Canberra, the nations capital, played host to Russia and Cameroon
at Bruce Stadium. The pitch was lush, soft, looked beautiful but held dangers
for players. The intermittent rain made it slippery and very hard on the
ankles of these players.

Russia	: 1. Sergei Alexandrov, 2. Dimitri Ananko, 3. Murad Magomedov, 4. 
	  Maxim Bokov, 6. Alexandr Karataiev, 8. Igor Zazulin, 9. Denis
	  Kliuiev, 11. Yuri Petrov, 13. Mikhail Murashov, 14. Nikolai
	  Golubkin, 18. Sergei Chudin
Coach	: Alexandr Piskarev

Cameroon: 1. Andre Eboue Eboue [yes twice], 3. Jeffrey Njukam Yemba, 6. Pius
	  Sielenu Ndiefi, 7. Bleriot Heuyot Tobit, 8. Serge Mimpo Tsimtseme,
	  9. Patrick Suffo Kangne,  12. Simon Moukoko, 13. David Embe,
	  14. Rigobert Song Bahanac, 15. Marc Foe, 17. Joseph Lewono
Coach	: Jean Manga Onguene

Referee	: Renato Marsiglia (Brazil)

	First I have to sit through Portugal and Germany, which was OK since
I love Germany and they did win in the end, but this.....
	Russia started brilliantly, after only 27 seconds Chudin crossed the
ball into the area where a three on two favoured the defence but Zazulin made
light of the work climbing high and heading down into the net. Cameroon must
surely have been cursing their luck. The movemant was flowing and professional
and belied Russia's complete lack of preparation.
	Cameroon lacked any pattern but still made several chances, putting the
ball into the net but having the goal disallowed for a foul on the keeper. A
rough decision. Infact the match was full of rough decisions, the referee 
was an absolute joke, fouls were not discouraged by his decisions. Rather
it seemed the best bet by either side was to try them at every oppertunity
and see how the refree felt about it.
	Both sides showed glimpses of skill, yet though the players generally
put on a good display the nature of the game was disrupted too often.
	Cameroon's 15 year old Suffo came close with a shot which didn't
curl enough. Real chances were there but none converted. Often Cameroon, 
shocked by actually being in with a clear chance, became overly anxious and
made a complete joke of the oppertunity. 
	Cards came out fairly often and I am sick of tracking them. Most,
however, were deserved yet few were out of malice. Mainly it was a case of
clumsiness, over enthusiasm or simple stupidity. One professional foul by
16 year old Simon Moukoko, he ran into a russian attacker I cannot recall
who, looked as if he didn't really care about the ball at all. The resulting
free kick, about 7-8 metres outside the box and slightly right of centre,
was expertly taken by No6 Karataiev. He left footed the ball through the 
spot where two russians had joined the end of the wall, and quickly left when
the kick was taken, which then went inside the left upright and past the 
keepers despairing dive. 37 minutes had ticked over. The opposing No6, not
wanting to be left out of the action grabbed the attention of everyone,
the russian No 8 in particular, by hacking him down very late. The russian
only wanting to kick the ball forward was left in great pain and Ndiefi was 
lucky to only see a yellow card.
	Concern for Petrov was great when he seemed to choke on something.
Initial fears of a swallowed tongue turned more to having some foreign object
in his throat. In the end nobody was any wiser and it may have been the
Russian version of a 'cramp'. Petrov was fine.
	Just before half time Cameroon stretched the Russian keeper to his full
height with a strong, well directed volley being touched behind. The match was
not a dour as the earlier Brisbane game but not attractive to watch. A great
run from Petrov which resulted in a shot wide of the mark was followed soon
after by his expulsion from the game, meaning Australia won't need to worry
about him either on Monday. In his eagerness to win the ball near the 
Cameroon right corner, he barrelled the defender on the ball rugby style
sending him flying. In truth it looked less like malice and more like 
clumsiness, Referee Marsiglia was at least being consistently inconsistent.
In the remaining 15 minutes Cameroon failed to make the advantage in numbers
count. Indeed, harking back to the WC '90 opener, they may have been better
off with some of their players off the field.
	Both sides tired at the end and Suffo's miskick when looking to
convert a chance and then the last kick of the game, a russian clearance, 
indicated this to be true.
	In all it was an almost good game with the referee and some bad
tackling on both sides marring the match. Cameroon, having only qualified
two weeks ago, and Russia, desperately short of match practice have much
room to improve. Improve they must if they wish to take a top two spot from
Colombia or Australia.