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Powell wary of Cameroon

27th July 2012, 05:15pm

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Powell: Cameroon up next for GB

Powell: Cameroon up next for GB

Coach Hope Powell insists Team GB will not take Cameroon lightly as they look to book their place in the last eight of the Olympics.

Powell's side opened the London Games with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday and are back in Cardiff to face tournament newcomers Cameroon on Saturday.

The African side were beaten 5-0 by Brazil in their opening fixture and Team GB are favourites to secure a win that should put them in the quarter-finals before their final Group E fixture against Brazil on Tuesday.

But Powell is wary of the pace and power posed by Cameroon, for whom striker Gabrielle Onguene looked the most potent attacking threat against Brazil.

She said: "We have had them looked at and they are very aggressive, very quick and direct, it will not be an easy game.

"They have pace in every department which we have to contend with.

"They play off the cuff, without being disrespectful, in an almost unorthodox style.

"But they rely heavily on pace and they are powerful and physical, we will need to be at the races."

One area where Powell is keen to improve is in front of goal. GB created plenty of opportunities against the Football Ferns, but their only goal came courtesy of Steph Houghton's free-kick.

But the coach is confident that as long as her side keep creating chances with the regularity shown on Wednesday, the goals will come.

She said: "We look for that in every game, I would be disappointed if we were not creating those opportunities.

"We did miss chances but we have to remember that New Zealand had a one-on-one in the second half where they will feel they should have scored.

"It is something we try to focus on in front of goal, but the important thing is we are creating those chances, because eventually you would hope by the law of averages that one of them will go in."

Powell also played down the focus that has been put on the national anthem during the men's and women's football games.

Plenty have highlighted that the Welsh contingent in the men's side, and the Scots in the women's squad, have not sung God Save the Queen.

But she said: "We did not give the girls an option (whether to sing or not). A big deal is being made about it but what people have to appreciate is that every player prepares in their own way.

"Some feel something by singing, others feel something by staying silent and focusing.

"We have to respect they will prepare for kick-off in their way, the fact they are here and part of Team GB should say it all."

With the team playing in Cardiff, they will not be able to take part in the opening ceremony, but Powell says the team are planning to watch it and be as much a part of it as possible.

"We have been given the opening ceremony outfits that are top secret, but we are planning to wear them, we want to try and embrace it, to be part of it," she said.

"Obviously we can't be there as it would be too much to travel there and back, but we will be as much a part of it as we can."

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