An out-of-sorts Germany were held to a 2-2 draw by
Cameroon in their penultimate FIFA World Cup friendly on Sunday.
Coach Joachim Low named a strong XI that included the
likes of Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze but saw his side struggle to
find top gear at Borussia Park.
Following a low-key first half, Samuel Eto'o gave
Cameroon the lead two minutes after the hour when he beat Roman Weidenfeller
from inside the area.
However, Germany were in front within 10 minutes of
Eto'o's opener as Thomas Muller headed home the equaliser before Andre Schurrle
tapped in their second from close range.
There was to be a twist in the tale, though, as Eric
Maxim Choupo-Moting netted a well-taken late equaliser.
Coach Volke Finke will have enjoyed the return to his
homeland, where he managed Freiburg for 16 years, although Low and Germany look
far from the finished product on the evidence of Sunday's encounter.
The hosts made a lively start and Ozil should have scored
within the first minute but could only slip Sami Khedira's pass wide of Charles
Itandje's right-hand post.
Itandje then tipped Gotze's strike onto the woodwork before
Eto'o, rested for Cameroon's last two friendlies, had the visitors' first
effort on target.
However, a number of minor fouls stopped either side from
getting into full flow, with the dangerous Reus next to test Itandje before
Khedira failed to connect with a cross from the left.
Cameroon could have stolen ahead before the break when
Eto'o played in Benjamin Moukandjo, but the Nancy forward saw his prodded
effort well saved by Weidenfeller.
Having finished the first half strongest, Cameroon were
under threat early in the second half as Reus flashed an effort wide of goal.
However, captain Eto'o, preparing for his fourth World
Cup, initially forced a save from Weidenfeller before following up at the
second attempt after Choupo-Moting had cut the loose ball back.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as Muller headed in
the equaliser after good work from Jerome Boateng on the right before Lukas
Podolski broke free down the left, amid suspicions of offside, and squared for
substitute Schurrle to finish.
Mainz man Choupo-Moting, who was born in Germany, saw his
fine goalscoring run continue - finding the net for a third consecutive
friendly - to gain Cameroon a draw and leave Low with a few question marks
ahead of Friday's final friendly with Armenia.
Culled from Soccerway
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