Germany and Cameroon must be licking their chops.

When the four teams in Group E were announced last year, many people pointed to Ireland as the dark horse. If the Irish could qualify out of a European group featuring powers Portugal and Holland, surely it would be a threat at the World Cup.

Now Ireland's status as contender is in doubt, thanks to Roy Keane.

The Manchester United star was kicked off Ireland's squad by coach Mick McCarthy last week after Keane got into an argument with an assistant coach.

McCarthy called Keane's actions a "disruptive influence" and didn't hesitate to cut Ireland's best player a week before the biggest tournament on earth. McCarthy insists Ireland will be fine, but Keane's absence in the midfield weakens the Irish.

That's good news for Germany, a country whose lack of young talent has plagued it recently. In 1990, Germany won the World Cup, having reached the championship for the third consecutive Cup. In 1994, the Germans finished fifth, and in '98 they finished seventh.

That gradual decline in world dominance reached a cruel reality for Germany during qualifying.

In Munich last September, in a stadium where other nations once feared to play, England annihilated the home side 5-1 on the way to winning the European qualifying group.

One headline rang out, "Too stupid for the World Cup."

An exaggeration perhaps, but there's no doubting that Germany's talent pool is running a little low lately. Many blame the German soccer association for being spoiled by success and failing to fund the schooling of new talent. That doesn't mean quality youngsters haven't come through the ranks in soccer-crazy Germany.

A new, albeit less dominant, class of talent is giving the Germans hope.

Coach Rudi Voller included gifted youngsters Sebastian Deisler and Michael Ballack on his team to complement a squad featuring veterans Oliver Bierhoff and Oliver Kahn.

Already, however, Deisler is a scratch after suffering a serious knee injury in an exhibition game against Austria. The news came a few days after another key midfielder, Joerg Heinrich, informed coach Voller that his injury was too much to overcome.

With a decimated midfield, Germany is facing confidence issues. Ireland is muddled in a controversy, and Saudi Arabia is never really a threat. Is Cameroon suddenly the Group E favorite? The Indomitable Lions are no longer the feel-good, underdog story of the World Cup —they're legit.

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Cameroon is the reigning Olympic champion, as well as African champion, and has a full squad of top-notch professionals to give it hope in Japan and Korea this summer.

Sports Illustrated has boldly predicted Cameroon as a semifinal team, which might be a stretch. However, with a now favorable draw, the Lions could be the sleeper in Asia this summer.


This is the sixth in a nine-part series previewing the 2002 World Cup soccer tournament in Japan and Korea.

E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com

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