Cameroon produced an emphatic display to beat Tunisia 4-1 in their play-off second leg and qualify for the World Cup. Pierre Webo, whose point-blank miss was chiefly responsible for the first leg ending goalless, scored early on and Benjamin Moukandjo added a second before the break. Ahmed Akaichi pulled a goal back, but Jean Makoun's double sealed the Indomitable Lions' place in Brazil. The opener came just three minutes in when Webo dispossessed defender Karim Haggui and produced a neat low left-footed finish across keeper Moez Ben Cherifia and in off the far post. Moukandjo made it 2-0 when he dribbled through three Tunisian defenders and fired low inside the near post. After Akaichi cut the deficit, Benoit Assou-Ekotto's corner was headed home at the near post by Makoun. The midfielder netted his second when he tapped into an empty net after a shot came back off the post.
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Scolari touts Brazil to win World Cup they will host
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Luiz Felipe Scolari is more confident than ever of Brazil's chances at the 2014 World Cup, guaranteeing the host team will win the tournament. Scolari had been saying that Brazil were among the favourites but were not at the same level as other teams, but the coach asserted after the 5-0 rout of Honduras on Saturday that his team will come away with the title next year. "Now we have a clear view about our team," he said. "Everything is in place already." Scolari won the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil.
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Germany:
Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller will get a chance to make his international debut as Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer will sit out Germany's international friendly against England on Tuesday. Weidenfeller has been in impressive form for Borussia Dortmund in recent seasons and has earned his first call-up to the senior squad at 33 as he looks to force his way into the reckoning for next year's World Cup. Rene Adler, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Ron-Robert Zieler are also in the mix for the reserve goalkeeper positions. England have not beaten Germany at home since 1975.
England:
England's under-fire goalkeeper Joe Hart and the left-back Ashley Cole will start against Germany, with manager Roy Hodgson planning several changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Chile. Hodgson gave debuts to three players in an experimental line-up, but he plans to bring back Hart and Cole for the Wembley clash. Hart has been dropped by his Premier League club Manchester City after a series of high-profile errors. Hodgson said: "It will be a tough mental test and a tough test of attitude. But I fully believe that Joe understands that and is ready for that. All I can do is give him the shirt and the chance to go out and play and afterwards, he's going to have to face whatever he faces."
Ethiopia:
Coach Sewnet Bishaw has blamed the Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama for robbing his team of a chance of a making the World Cup finals for the first time. Bishaw's side went down 2-0 to Nigeria on Saturday, giving the Super Eagles a 4-1 aggregate victory over the two legs, to send them to the finals for the fifth time. Bishaw said: "The referee won the game for Nigeria. He denied us two penalties and gave them a soft penalty. These were not fair decisions by the referee."
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rgentina:
Angel di Maria has told his Argentina teammates they should know how to play without Lionel Messi, who has been ruled out of Tuesday's friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in St Louis through injury. Barcelona confirmed last week that the four-time World Player of the Year will be sidelined until the new year after tearing a hamstring in the 4-1 victory over Real Betis. "We are in good shape even though Leo is injured, but it is better that these problems occur now and not closer to the World Cup," said the Real Madrid winger. "I hope he can get over it as soon as possible. We have already played games without Leo and the national team coped well. These games are useful to firm up the team. We'll try to approach this game in the best way so we can pick up a victory in the last game of the year."
Netherlands:
Uncapped defender Patrick van Aanholt has been called up by Netherlands for Tuesday's friendly against Colombia at Amsterdam Arena, the Dutch football association said yesterday. Van Aanholt, 23, who is on loan at Vitesse from Chelsea, joins a 22-man Oranje squad after fellow left-backs Martins Indi (muscle) and Jetro Willems (knee) left the Noordwijk training camp on Sunday.
Scotland: Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd has been called into the Scotland squad for the first time in three years ahead of Tuesday's friendly meeting with Norway in Molde.
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