Cameroon v Saudi Arabia preview

Arsenal star Lauren has 'done a Roy Keane' and blasted Cameroon's World Cup preparations.

Lauren reckons the travel chaos that delayed the Indomitable Lions' arrival in Japan by five days has hampered their chances of making progress.

"The way we travelled here was terrible," grumbled Lauren, ahead of his side's clash with Saudi Arabia in Saitama.

"The way that we prepared wasn't good enough to play for a tournament at the highest level like the World Cup."

Lauren chose not to single out anyone for blame of the travel farce which led to the Cameroon squad being delayed in Paris and in Thailand en route to the Far East.

But he added: "At the highest level you must prepare for the World Cup in a different way if you want to do something. It's just not good enough."

Despite his frustrations, the 25-year-old double winner with the Gunners is ready to put the problems behind him and reckons there is nothing wrong with morale in the Cameroon camp.

"I'm thinking about a win and we do have a great spirit," he said. "Everybody just wants to play."

The Saudis will be smarting after their 8-0 thrashing at the hands of Germany.

And Lauren added: "It may be dangerous to play them now after losing 8-0. They will want to show everybody they can win again. We know that and we will be trying to win the game."

Meanwhile, under-fire Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al-Johar has come out fighting ahead of the game following a savage mauling by his critics.

Al-Johar is under considerable pressure to restore lost Saudi pride at the Saitama Stadium in the wake of Saturday's embarrassing 8-0 defeat to Germany.

Now, Al-Johar has hit back as he defiantly said: "What happened against Germany was abnormal and unbelievable. It was a disastrous result.

"But all those people who are criticising me now are those who wrote or said I was a hero after the Asian Cup in Lebanon and after the final stage of qualifying for this World Cup.

"It's simply not true that we went into the match without any strategy.

"The players trained hard to apply it, and that was demonstrated prior to the finals with the good

results from the warm-up matches.

"We promise our fans in Saudi Arabia and in the Arab world to do better in the next two matches. We can still qualify."

Changes will be made to the side, although team manager Faisal Abed Al Hadi has made it clear goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Deayea will not be among those axed claiming the 29-year-old "remains one of the most talented guardians in Asia."

The major doubt surrounds captain and striker Sami Al Jaber, who missed training on Sunday and Monday due to an injury to his right ankle, although it is hoped he will be fit to play.