Schaefer expects a tough test (Allsport)

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Ibaraki

Click here to place your World Cup bets!
Click here for Cameroon team section
Click here for teams index
Click here for latest World Cup headlines
Click here for World Cup photo gallery
Click here for World Cup Bettingzone

Cameroon coach Winfried Schaefer is expecting a Saudi Arabia backlash on Thursday following one of the most humiliating results in the country's history.

Reaction to the 8-0 defeat to Germany led to fierce criticism of coach Nasser Al Johar, with one enraged supporter on a television phone-in after the game describing the goals as "eight bullets to the head".

Al Johar can almost certainly expect to be fired upon his return if Saudi Arabia continue to perform as badly as they did against Germany in their remaining Group E matches with the Indomitable Lions and Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland.

Restoring lost pride would appear to be the first order of the day for Al Johar's side in Saitama, although Schaefer is fearful as he said: "Things will be different on Thursday against Saudi Arabia.

"We should not underestimate them because they will be looking to make up for their opening game defeat and will come out fighting.

"They should not be judged on their match against the Germans and I think they will try to play more aggressively. It certainly won't be the same kind of match as theirs was on Saturday."

A Cameroon victory will gave Schaefer and his players a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stages, albeit with their remaining game against Germany in Shizuoka next Tuesday.

After starting out with a 1-1 draw against the Republic, Schaefer knows his side need to be more incisive than they were on Saturday, citing Germany as the perfect role model.

"We have to put pressure on them as the Germans did, attack very early, go inside the box, create many chances and also play a lot more aggressively and focus on finishing," added Schaefer.

Initially, the Germans played down his side's lack of preparation following their late arrival in Japan due to a dispute over World Cup bonus payments to the players.

But Schaefer feels such problems, in conjunction with a 60-hour journey from Paris, led to his side looking jaded during the second half against Ireland in which they threw away their 1-0 interval advantage.

"It was difficult for us to perform better than we did against Ireland because of the delay we had before our arrival in Japan," stated Schaefer.

"In order to be successful you have to be 100% fit. Teams like Argentina and England, they were here for five days more and they are probably a little bit fitter than we are.

"But our team has reached a turning point and I'm very optimistic and confident our team will have a much better game against Saudi Arabia."

The Saudi players will be buoyed by the best wishes of both Prince Abdullah, the regent, and Prince Sultan, the country's second deputy premier and minister of defence and aviation.

Prince Abdullah spoke with both Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, head of the Kingdom's delegation to the World Cup finals, and Al Johar on the telephone, telling them to forget the result against Germany and to concentrate on their forthcoming matches.

Al Johar is poised to make a number of changes to his side, while he is waiting on the fitness of star striker and captain Sami Al Jaber, who injured his right ankle in the game with Germany.

A team official said: "The doctors are confident he will be all right for Thursday, but he will undergo full medical treatment to make sure he is 100% fit."