Chile have allowed both their previous World Cup opponents to rise from the canvas, but can ill-afford to make the same mistake against Cameroon today. The prize of a second round tie with world champions Brazil is the almost certain reward for the winning team in Nantes.

It is a prospect to savour for Chile's outstanding strike partnership of Marcelo Salas and Ivan Zamorano. Zamorano has already had a dream about playing against his Inter Milan team-mate Ronaldo.

So far however, the duo have watched their side fail to protect one-goal leads against both Italy and Austria with only a few minutes left on the clock, leaving the South Americans with just two points instead of six. Cameroon were also denied late on by the Austrians, but apart from one spectacular strike by defender Raymond Kalla, they need to address their goal shortage if they are to reach the knockout stage.

The only injury worry for Chilean coach Nelson Acosta is defender Javier Margas. The big centre back has a slight knee problem, but Acosta reckons he will be fit.

Acosta's main selection dilemma is whether to stick with Fabien Estay as his main creative midfielder or bring in Jose Luis Sierra, who came on for Estay in Chile's last match against Austria and livened up his side's attacking play. "The most likely option is that we'll play with the same team but nothing is for sure," Acosta said.

Cameroon coach Claude Le Roy has two serious problems. The first concerns the suspension that rules Kalla out of the match and the second the long-term injury to midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe. Foe was ruled out before the tournament while Kalla was sent off in the defeat against Italy. Le Roy's decision to take only a handful of defenders is now leaving the side exposed. "To lose both Kalla and Foe is a huge blow," Le Roy said yesterday.

And he also knows that Chile will not be easy to beat. "I was very impressed with them when they beat England 20 at Wembley," he admitted, "and I'm not surprised by their performances so far." He has warned his players not to look ahead to any possible Brazil encounter, mindful of his side's world ranking of 49 compared with Chile's ninth position.

Probable Teams

Chile: Tapia; Fuentes; Villarroel, Margas, Reyes, Rojas; Acuna, Parraguez, Estay; Zamorano, Salas.

Cameroon: Songo'o; Song, Mahouve, Njanka; Wome, Olembe, Angibeaud, Ndo; Desire Job, Omam Biyik, Mboma.