PRETORIA, South Africa (Reuters) – Cameroon became the first side to be eliminated from the World Cup after the Indomitable Lions somehow lost 2-1 to Denmark despite taking the lead and playing some superb soccer in their Group E match yesterday.
Their defeat also meant that the Netherlands advanced to the second round after beating Japan 1-0 earlier, but Cameroon have no chance of qualifying following defeats in their opening two games.
“I will not resign,” Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen told reporters after the game, and said he stood by controversial selections he had made in the first game against Japan.
“I don’t have any regrets and that’s not how I operate,” he said, adding the team had given their very best but had been let down by their finishing.
After losing to Japan and facing some disarray in his camp, Le Guen brought back experienced pair Alexandre Song and Geremi into the starting lineup along with forward Achille Emana, while Jean Makoun, Eric Choupo-Moting and Joel Matip dropped to the bench.
His decision to add a bit more steely experience paid off in just the 10th minute of the match with Christian Poulsen’s woeful clearance straight to Achille Webo.
Webo found skipper and three-time African Footballer-of-the-Year Samuel Eto’o and he kept his composure to rifle the ball past Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen.
Denmark equalised after 33 minutes when a superb long upfield pass from Simon Kjaer found Dennis Rommedahl who crossed for Nicklas Bendtner to slide in and score.
There were dramatic chances for both teams at either end but Rommedahl was the one who found the net after 61 minutes, curling a shot home after making space for himself at the edge of the box.
Denmark can advance if they beat Japan in their last match.