Cameroon may have to rely on luck of the Irish running out in lottery (07.06.2002)
YOKOHAMA
African champions Cameroon and Ireland may face the cruellest fate of all next Tuesday - their progress in the World Cup being dictated by a drawing of lots.
While Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer conceded Thursday after the disappointing 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia that Ireland were certainties to go through from Group E, a draw between his side and Germany and Ireland securing a 1-0 win over the Saudis would leave all three on five points.
The three-time World Cup winners would top the group thanks to their 8-0 whacking of Saudi Arabia while the Irish and the Cameroons
would finish with the same goal difference and the same amount of goals scored hence the drawing of lots to see who takes second place.
Statistics certainly favour Schafer in terms of the Irish match.
In 11 World Cup finals matches the Irish have never scored more than one goal, notching just six in those games.
The Irish would then have to rely on either of the other two sides beating the other to avoid what would probably for them or Cameroon be the most painful World Cup exit since the Dutch went out on penalties to Brazil in the 1998 semi-finals and England to Argentina the same year./
