Australia v Cameroon: Fifa Series international football friendly – live

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40 mins: The Socceroos press forward again as Riley McGree picks up the ball well forward on the left side but lacks the support runners to turn the opportunity into a chance on goal

38 mins: Now Herrington pulls out a chip over Cameroon’s last line from his bag of tricks. There is a little bit too much on the ball as it trickles out for a throw but Juric likes what he sees as he gives the 18-year-old two thumbs up.

36 mins: Cameroon are on the attack again without finding a way past the last line. Ambina tries his luck with a speculative shot from outside the box that sails high and wide. Cameroon have had six shots but Maty Ryan has not yet been truly tested.

34 mins: Herrington has been impressive on debut and now steps forward and into the midfield to close down the start of a Cameroon move.

Lucas Herrington impresses on debut for Australia against Cameroon. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

31 mins: The heat is turned up as Connor Metcalfe picks off Kamdem’s threatening run with a timely and hefty bump. There is little complaint from the young Cameroon attacker who has been on the most lively on the pitch so far.

28 mins: A free kick in a tasty area for the Socceroos but Riley McGree’s miskick sends the ball wide. Geria drags it down and picks out Italiano to chip toward the six-yard box where Juric leaps but is cleared out by Kamdem. Juric hit the ground hard and takes time to get back to his feet.

28 mins: Cameroon’s free kick after the foul on Fosso is their best opportunity so far as the Socceroos take their time to clear with the ball bobbling around the six-yard box before Ryan gets hiss hands on it.

26 mins: Jason Geria gets under a long, high ball from Cameroon as their midfield looks for an alternative way through. Aiden O’Neill gets to Fosso late as Cameroon earn a free kick in a dangerous area.

23 mins: Both sides are breaking down in midfield too often as they look to lift the tempo. Jacob Italiano is down on the floor and rubbing the side of his face after a good ol’ fashioned “coming together” with Cameroon attacker Yongwa.

Nicholas Stöckling likes what he has seen, even as the Socceroos have created little so far.

“Negative, negative from so many … I don’t get it … this is a young, untested but talented squad. We don’t know their ceiling … that’s how we cause upsets in World Cups … plus McGree, Bos and Circeti are three of the most talented, on form, players we have had in years.”

20 mins: Deni Juric chases a long ball into the Socceroos right attacking corner but can’t budge Cameroon defender Moungam as the Australian tumbles to the turf just outside the box. There didn’t appear to be anything untoward in it, and after a quick check on Juric the referee calls for a restart.

18 mins: Christian Kofane gets his head to a corner and directs the shot on goal. The Socceroos are fortunate that there is little behind it as Maty Ryan collects on the bounce.

16 mins: Lucas Herrington puts his body on the line to block another cross from Cameroon attacker Kamdem. The 18-year-old Australian has settled quickly.

14 mins: A moment of relief for the Socceroos as they cross the halfway line briefly before the ball comes back to their defensive third.

12 mins: The Socceroos are breaking down in midfield as they look for a pathway out of defence.

10 mins: Jason Geria does well to close down a half-hearted Cameroon attack but can’t help but concede a corner. The Socceroos have formidable height at set pieces and are able to clear on the second attempt.

8 mins: Cameroon set off on their first attacking move of the night as Kamdem finds space down the right to carry the ball to the edge of the box and whip in a cross. Debutant Herrington makes his first intervention in a Socceroos shirt with a timely header to clear.

5 mins: Jacob Italiano is off to a bright start as he takes his shot to claim a regular spot at right back. The 24-year-old gets on to the end of a long ball into the box but can’t quite get it under control on the first touch.

3 mins: The Socceroos have settled better as they tinker around the final third without finding a way through a Cameroon defence that looks comfortable on their back heels.

1 min: Almost the ideal start for the Socceroos and Jacob Italiano as the right back whips a cross in that the Cameroon defence are fortunate to clear.

Kickoff

Peeeeeeep! Cameroon get us under way with the visitors fielding an especially new-look side while the Socceroos have a pair of debutants …

Advance Australia Fair and O Cameroon, Cradle of our Forefathers have been belted out, and the players are getting into place as the visitors prepare to kick off at Accor Stadium …

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic talked up right back Jacob Italiano yesterday, before the 24-year-old gets his chance to impress tonight.

He’s had a couple of solid games, scored a hat-trick (earlier this month) so he’s full of confidence.

I’d love to find another Jacob Italiano, whether it’s that position or another position, someone that can come through and surprise everyone and then continue on with some really good form at their club.

James Paraskevas seems at least somewhat confident of a Socceroos win. Though does not seemed overly thrilled by the path that they might take to get there …

“The rotation merry go round continues! As for the game, we are playing the Indomitable Lions who have never been past the first round of a World Cup since 1990, have left their best player out of the squad, and have come with their C Team. Australia on the other hand are looking like mince meat to the USA, Paraguay and whoever else gets the spot.

“We are not looking to play any type of football whatsoever, not positive or playing forward, and we’re not particularly great defensively against the better sides either. But we knew all this when Popovic came on board. FA are happy to just be there and organising friendlies against this level of opposition is pointless for us at this point. Anyway, I say 2-0 Australia in a drab encounter.”

As though international football needed any more creative concepts coming out of the world governing body, we now have the Fifa Series, which this clash between Australia and Cameroon tonight is arguably the most enticing match in.

David Squires has done his best to understand Fifa’s – and in particular its president Gianni Infantino’s – thinking. And it’s fair to say, he does not miss!

The Socceroos are on a farewell tour of home games on their way to the World Cup where they have been placed in a group with co-hosts the United States and Paraguay.

The fourth team in Group D is still to be determined but after the playoffs in Europe overnight has been narrowed down to two teams – Kosovo and Turkey.

Kosovo earned a spot in the decisive game with a 4-3 win in a chaotic clash with Slovakia. Ferdi Kadioglu scored the only goal in 1-0 victory over Romania in their playoff semi-final, but it was moment of brilliance from Arda Guler that turned the match.

Cameroon XI

Indomitable Lions: Epassy (c, gk), Moungam, Kotto, Malone, Avom, Ambina, Namaso, Yongwa, Fosso, Kamdem, Kofane.

Cameroon name a new-look side, as expected as they begin to rebuild with an eye to the future. Manchester United attacker Brian Mbeumo missed the trip to Australia after picking up a knock with his club side, leaving 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane as the player to watch.

Australia XI

Socceroos: Maty Ryan (c, gk), Jacob Italiano, Jason Geria, Alessandro Circati, Lucas Herrington, Jordan Bos, Aiden O’Neill, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Martin Boyle, Deni Juric.

Lucas Herrington makes the most of his first call-up to a Socceroos squad with a starting debut, while Deni Juric also earns a debut cap. Jacob Italiano gets his shot at right back with Lewis Miller ruled out tonight and for the World Cup with an Achilles injury, and Fran Karacic sent home for the squad this week due to a foot concern.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the international football friendly between Australia and Cameroon at Accor Stadium in Sydney.

The Socceroos continue to ramp up their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with their first match of the Fifa Series against the Indomitable Lions. Australia will also face Curaçao next week in Melbourne, as part of their farewell tour of games on home soil before the global showpiece to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June.

This is also the final stretch of games for the Socceroos players to press their claims for a spot in the World Cup squad. The relative evenness of the two sides should also ensure a more intriguing contest, with the Socceroos currently ranked 27th in the world while Cameroon are not too far behind at No 44. But the Indomitable Lions also have a point to prove as they begin to look further into the future after the African giants failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic has given first-time call ups to Lucas Herrington and Ante Suto, and there is a potential debutant for Deni Juric. A late change due to injury means Kye Rowles has joined the squad in place of Fran Karacic who has a foot problem. Cameroon head coach David Pagou has both eyes firmly on the future with an inexperienced squad and 12 potential debutants travelling to Australia, while only four players remain from the squad that reached the last eight at Afcon in January.

Kickoff in Sydney is 8.10pm local or AEDT / 10.10am WAT / 9.10am GMT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and team news. But now is the time to hit me up with questions, thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email, or find me on X @martinpegan and Bluesky @martinpegan.bsky.social. Let’s get into it!