By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Oita

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Marc-Vivien Foe is convinced Cameroon are a much stronger team than in France four years ago - but knows defeat against the Republic of Ireland tomorrow could lead to a third successive group stage exit.

Since their thrilling march to the quarter-finals of Italia '90 where they lost out to England in extra time, the Lions have appeared more like tame pussycats in the last two World Cup finals.

Cameroon humiliatingly crashed out of the tournament on the back of a 6-1 defeat to Russia in USA '94, and disappointed again at France '98 as draws with Austria and Chile sandwiched a defeat to Italy when they were expected to do so much better.

Several members of the squad who played in that tournament are again under pressure to make their mark in Japan and South Korea, starting against the Republic in Niigata.

Foe believes his team-mates are much older and wiser, particularly as Cameroon go into the competition as reigning Olympic champions and two-time winners of the African Nations Cup in 2000 and 2002.

The 25-year-old, who spent a season with West Ham in 1999-2000 before joining Lyon for £6million in a swap deal which saw Frederic Kanoute move to Upton Park, believes Cameroon are better equipped not to let down their adoring supporters this time round.

"The team we have now contains a lot of players who were involved in France, so I feel there is much more unity within this squad as we have grown up together," said Foe, who missed the finals four years ago because of a broken leg.

"The connection between the players is much stronger and that is why I think we are a far better team than the one in '98."

But Foe, who helped Lyon win the French championship last season, is also cautious for he knows a bad result at the 42,300-capacity Big Swan Stadium could prove fatal to Cameroon's hopes of progress.

Powerhouse midfielder Foe, who has been likened to Arsenal star Patrick Vieira, recognises Mick McCarthy's Ireland are a dangerous side.

He added: "They proved just what a good team they are by defeating Holland in qualifying.

"It means we will have to show how united as a team we are to beat them in what is always an important first game. It will decide the fate of our team."

Manchester City's Lucien Mettomo also understands just how vital the clash with the Republic is, although opening matches are notoriously tame affairs as neither side are prepared to throw caution to the wind.

Mettomo, a £1.5million buy from St Etienne last September, said: "We have been in training for four years for this, yet the first game against Ireland will decide the group.

"We know we have to get a victory if we are to reach the second round."

Captain Rigobert Song, the former Liverpool and West Ham centre-back now plying his trade with Cologne in the Bundesliga, is more confident of Cameroon's chances.

The 2-2 draw with England in the final warm-up friendly last Sunday has given Song hope and he added: "We believe we can get through to the next stage.

"Ireland play a similar way to England, so we are confident of playing well against them and defeating them."

Star striker Patrick Mboma is a key figure if Cameroon are to achieve such success, but he is a doubt due to an injury to his foot which has needed to be taped up for training over the last two days.

Coach Winfried Schafer, though, feels certain Mboma will play.

"Patrick is getting regular treatment every day by our medical staff and independently he does training for his foot," said Schafer.

"His injury has stabilised and I'm very hopeful that he will be fit to play in our opening game on Saturday against Ireland."