The first game of Group E will be played tonight between Canada and Cameroon in the FIFA Womens World Cup. Canada, ranked fifth in the official FIFA Womens World Rankings, are clear favourites over Cameroon, ranked 46th. This tactical preview will provide an analysis of how we expect the game to pan out.
Availability
A few weeks ago Canada confirmed that both Erin McLeod and Diana Matheson were ruled out of the World Cup through injuries. Canada will miss backup goalkeeper McLeod but her absence wont alter Canadas starting eleven. Neither player has played for Canada since returning from another injury in February. Matheson and McLeods experience will be missed in the Canada camp, with the duo sharing 321 international caps combined.
At the time of writing there appears to be no major injuries reported for the Indomitable Lionesses. The team will need to be at full fitness if they want to challenge team Canada, who have a squad mixed with both youth and experience.
Team shapes
As discussed in our FREE FIFA Womens World Cup Magazine, Canadas formation can vary depending on the opponent. On many occasions, Canada have set up with a variant of three or five at the back. Utilizing attacking wingbacks, Canada aim to overwhelm their opponents in the midfield while maintaining solidity while defending. More recently, however, Canada have dabbled between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1.
In their last two games, against Mexico and Spain, Canada have set up in a 4-4-2. Even within these two isolated games, players have rotated positions. One constant throughout these matches has been the presence of Christine Sinclair up top. Cameroon, on the other hand, line up in a variant of the 4-3-3. This formation can switch into a 4-2-1-3 or a 4-2-3-1 throughout the match.
Player to Watch: Christine Sinclair
Anybody who knows Canada Soccer knows who Christine Sinclair is. Sinclair has 281 international caps and 181 international goals. The Canadian captain will be partaking in her fifth FIFA Womens World Cup in France and will be a key player for Kenneth Heiner-Møllers side. She consistently pops up with goals and assists for Canada, making her an obvious threat to Cameroon.
Cameroons captain, Christine Maine, will hope to keep Sinclair quite with her centre-back partner Estelle Johnson. The biggest issue for the Cameroonian defenders will be Sinclairs physical dominance. Sinclair (5 ft 9 in) is both strong and pacey, a player who replicates the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimović in her style of play. Maine (5 ft 3 in) and Johnson (5 ft 6 in) will struggle to deal with her height, especially if Canada play direct, as they have in the past. In the following image, we can see Sophie Schmidt playing the direct ball to Sinclair, something Canada looked to do often in this particular game.
If Canada play with two strikers, Cameroon may rely on a central midfielder playing more reserved to prevent an isolated two vs two on their defensive line. If Cameroon can shut down Sinclair, they may have a chance at stopping Canada, but dont be surprised to see the likes of Sophie Schmidt playing balls from deep into Sinclair.
Wide Areas
Cameroons reliance on attacking fullbacks could alter the way Canada play. When Canada played with three at the back, it left them vulnerable to counter-attacks down the flanks. But Canadas wide fullbacks did well to get back, especially with the defensive coverage of three centre-backs.
Considering they have strayed away from playing three at the back in recent game
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