Lastly, Suzanne Wrack’s report is here. Bye!
Roll up! Roll up! Essential World Cup reading:
Full-time: Canada 1-0 Cameroon
Kadeisha Buchanan’s first-half header is sufficient to seal victory. It was an underwhelming Canada performance – but they have the three points they so badly craved. Deanne Rose was very lively off the bench, definitely a plus point for Kenneth Heiner-Møller, their Danish coach. As for Cameroon, it could be a painful couple of weeks. That was a very stodgy performance, and that is being kind. They offered precious little, despite staying in the game for so long.
Updated
90 min: There will be two added minutes.
88 min: And now a goalmouth scramble ensues! Cameroon – somehow – manage to hack the ball away, with Canada desperately trying to force it goalwards. Heroic defending – and great play again by the substitute Rose. She is surely a shoo-in to start their next Group E match, against New Zealand on Saturday.
87 min: Christine Sinclair thumps the ball just wide! That was a cracking volley. She hit it sweetly – but it zooms past Ndom’s post. Cameroon survive.
86 min: Fleming plays in Beckie, who has a pop from 30 yards. It seems a decent effort but on closer inspection, it was rather wayward. She took a touch with her left foot to steady herself and then took aim with her right. It was always moving away from goal, though. But back come Canada ...
Updated
83 min: Labbe gifts the ball to Enganamouit – but Cameroon hand it straight back to Lawrence. It is on a plate for the Canada winger. Meanwhile Yango has been withdrawn for Cameroon.
81 min: Saying that, apparently Canada are the fifth-best team in the world. They have flattered to deceive for much of this. Deanne Rose has made a splash since coming on and Nichelle Prince was lively, dangerous in fits and starts. Christine Sinclair has been fairly quiet. Canada have simply not been good enough going forward, despite hogging the ball more-or-less all evening.
79 min: Time is ticking for Cameroon. And Canada win another plucky foul on halfway. That eats into the African side’s chances of finding a leveller. Cameroon have been totally ineffectual in the final third. Really, really poor.
Updated
77 min: Canada go close! Rose does brilliantly, pulling the ball back for Sinclair – but the veteran striker cannot divert it goalwards. It was a cracking cross by the substitute, who has made a real impression since coming on, and Sinclair did well to bend her run to get something on it. But it bounces just wide.
Updated
76 min: Rose’s first touch is positive, as Canada raid down the right. They need a second goal to ease any late tension. Cameroon, as poor as they have been, still sense an opportunity to snatch a late equaliser. Canada have gone very flat.
74 min: Kenneth Heiner-Møller, the Danish Canada coach, has seen enough. Deanne Rose replaces Nichelle Prince, the Houston Dash winger who has certainly been one of their better performers. It has been a fairly underwhelming performance – even if they have dominated large spells.
72 min: A crude challenge by Leuko, the Strasbourg defender, on Beckie earns Canada a free-kick 35 yards out – and a little respite, in truth. But they fail to make anything of it. Adding a second would avoid a nervous finish.
Updated
70 min: Claudine Meffometou nods just wide! Cameroon get a rare corner – their third of this game – and Meffometou drops a downward header agonisingly past Labbe’s post. That was comfortably Cameroon’s best chance, best opening. It was a decent delivery, Meffometou ghosted towards the back post relatively unmarked but could not get her effort on target. A big let-off for Canada, who have drifted off to sleep in the last 15-20 minutes. Cameroon’s subs have lifted their spirits.
Updated
69 min: Labbe lobs the ball out of play. This game has died of death in the last few minutes. Canada have been so untroubled, they appear to be struggling to motivate themselves. It is Cameroon, if anything, that are probing now ...
67 min: Another change for Cameroon: Enganamouit replaces Ndoumbouk. A like-for-like change. Cameroon have offered nothing going forward.
65 min: A change for Cameroon: Akaba replaces Nchout.
64 min: Canada are cruising. They have not been troubled by Cameroon. At all. It is getting increasingly difficult to see Cameroon equalising.
62 min: Prince gets away from Manie – but slices the cross! It all looked so promising for Canada. Some lovely footwork had left Manie dazed.
Updated
60 min: Onguene’s getting a lecture from the North Korean referee. Cameroon will be relatively happy with this, though. They’re still very much in it – even if they have offered precious little. Canada are frustrated by that five-strong defence and have made few clear in-roads. Cameroon, however, have made none.
58 min: Prince drags wide! A big chance goes begging for Canada. Beckie sends in a Canada corner in from the right, Cameroon do well to clear. They think that’s the end of that but Canada have other ideas, recycling the ball out on halfway. They dink a pass into Nichelle Prince – but she skews her effort wide. Replays show the winger was in fact offside, so any goal may not have counted. But, we will never know.
56 min: Buchanan, the goalscorer, is a little overzealous in the challenge and Cameroon have a chance to whip it in from the left. The ball drops on the penalty spot – but Christine Sinclair, helping out in defence, powers clear. Cameroon get a corner out of it but Canada welly it away through Scott.
Updated
54 min: Cameroon lump a deep free-kick straight at Labbe, the Canada goalkeeper, who gratefully cradles the ball. She will pump it back downfield.
52 min: Lawrence twists and turns her way into the Cameroon box – the Canada winger does well, bamboozling the opposition defence. Bums are momentarily off seats – but the winger is eventually halted in her tracks. Prince and Lawrence have provided plenty of energy for Canada from wide areas.
51 min: Ah. It is straight into the wall by Sinclair.
49 min: Canada try to up the ante but Cameroon crowd out Fleming. But not cleanly, according to the Korean referee. And Canada have a golden opportunity to take aim at goal. Yango was penalised but Fleming appeared to simply trip. Anyway, it is Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt who fancy it ...
Updated
47 min: Cameroon almost wriggle the ball away from Scott on halfway but they fail to break. Canada pick it back up and this games resumes order.
46 min: The second half is go. Cameroon kick-off.
Some bits and pieces to get stuck into at half-time:
Half-time: Canada 1-0 Cameroon
Kadeisha Buchanan’s downward header is the difference at the break. This is not a classic – far from it – but it is all to play for.
Updated
45 min: There will be two added minutes.
GOAL! Canada 1-0 Cameroon (Buchanan, 45)
Kadeisha Buchanan, the Lyon defender, arrives late at the back post and crashes in a header from a corner. Buchanan nodded into the ground and it cannoned into the net. Ndom, the Cameroon goalkeeper, had absolutely no chance.
Updated
42 min: Nichelle Prince’s effort is deflected on to a post by Yvonne Leuko! Chapman did superbly, even if she did slightly overcook her pass, sliding the ball across goal for Michelle Prince. And the Canada winger came within inches of an 11th international goal. Prince struck at goal from an acute angle and Leuko, who plays for French club Arras, and Annette Ndom, the goalkeeper, threw themselves at it to keep it out, and the former’s intervention proved sufficient. Cameroon survive, but back come Canada ...
Updated
41 min: Prince bends a decent ball into Beckie – but Cameroon nod the ball clear. Without looking too composed, they have stood firm when called on. They are not going to roll over anytime soon, that’s for sure. Canada are going to have to dig deep if they are to garner victory here.
40 min: “Simply for the sake of narrative, I hope Beckie takes free kicks for Canada,” emails Peter Oh. “Bend it like Beckie.” We can hope!
38 min: Well, well, well! A few hundred supporters run ducking for cover, as the rain lashes down on fans seated in an uncovered stand at La Mosson, home of Ligue 1 side Montpellier. They are scurrying for cover. Back to the football, and Canada continue to dominate the ball, with Ndom punching clear from Chapman.
Updated
36 min: Ndoumbouk, the Cameroon forward, frowns after going into the book. And then has a brief sulk. She clattered the Canada midfielder Scott on halfway.
35 min: Zadorsky is penalised for handball – it is a little harsh – but Cameroon will take it. It is a golden opportunity to ping the ball towards the box but Canada survive without truly breaking sweat. Oguene forces the Canada defender into an error but then loses her footing, and it is back to square one.
33 min: Christine Sinclair is looking pretty isolated up front for Canada. For a player with such an impeccable scoring record, that is not good. They need to get her involved more often. Beckie has been lively, however.
32 min: Cameroon attempt to build, releasing Oguene down the right but Canada are oh so quick to snuff it out. Canada look strong and organised in defence – and pretty nifty going forward. But they are yet to really turn on the style.
Updated
29 min: Cameroon earn a corner, the crowd lap it up, they sense blood – possibly even a goal – but when the ball eventually comes in from the right, it is painfully poor. And Canada comfortably seize back possession. Breaking down a five-strong Cameroon defence is their biggest challenge.
Updated
26 min: Cameroon leather the ball downfield from a goal-kick but Schmidt gleefully collects on halfway. An athletic Canada side are patiently knocking the ball around nicely but that killer final pass continues to elude them. Cameroon are working their socks off with little – if anything – to show for it.
25 min: A Canada corner lands kindly at the feet of Buchanan – but she cannot divert the ball goalwards. But they do manage to recycle the ball, with good work by Janine Beckie down the right, who springs the offside trap. But Prince ends up skewing the ball wide of Ndom’s goal. Canada are seeing plenty of the ball but are yet to conjure up a meaningful chance against a Cameroon side powerless to do much else but soak up wave after wave of pressure.
24 min: “As an expat now living in Toronto I am hoping this will be a day of a double triumph for Canada,” emails Claire McConnell. “First, a win for the women’s soccer team and then the mighty Raptors taking the NBA championship away from the US for the first time in history. We The North!!”
22 min: A little lull in play as Sophie Schmidt takes a knock. The Canada midfielder is fit to carry on, though.
19 min: Canada fly forward down the left but they force the final pass – and Cameroon gobble the ball back up inside the 18-yard box.
16 min: Cameroon feel aggrieved with Hyang-Ok Ri, the Korean referee. They get a little fortunate and break two-on-two, but Ndoumbouk appears to be hauled down, only for the referee to award Canada a free-kick. It all started up the other end, after Ndom gathered another high ball into the box.
15 min: And now Ndom makes a smart save from Schmidt! Canada are knocking at the door. But now all I can think of is the postcode lottery ...
14 min: Clever play by Beckie on the edge of the area, collecting a one-two from Fleming, but the move breaks down. Cameroon are struggling to get out of their own half.
12 min: Canada parachute the ball into the box, and they help it on towards Sinclair, who is lurking at the back post. It looks promising but Meffometuo acrobatically clears. The move culminates with Beckie driving wide of goal from 20 yards. That was more like it from Canada. They are grinding through the gears.
Updated
10 min: Cameroon probe for an opening but Lawrence, the Canada defender, is alert to it and comes bundling out from the back with possession. Canada, who are ranked fifth in the world, are yet to get fully into the groove.
8 min: Yango is late on Chapman and the Korean referee has a stern word with the Cameroon defender. Another opportunity for Canada to swing in a free-kick from a dangerous position, 30 yards out. Beckie, who plays her club football for Manchester City, has a pop but it is lacking in conviction.
7 min: “Looking forward to a good game,” emails Kimberly Tomasson. And we have one here. Things are beginning to spice up in Montpellier.
6 min: At the end of that Cameroon attacking phase, Schmidt slipped and clattered Onguene, the forward, on the follow through. The referee allows the player to receive treatment but waves play on, despite some clamour for VAR to intervene.
5 min: Good movement by Manie at the corner – but she stabs just wide of goal. Cameroon’s tails are up after being made to sit and suffer early on.
4 min: And now Cameroon attempt to apply some heat, penning Canada in to win a corner. “What a story Christine Sinclair is,” emails Alex from Enfield. “35 years old and still as prolific in front of goal as ever. Men’s football – take note!”
2 min: Christine Sinclair heads just wide! Canada maintain the pressure, winning a free-kick from the right flank and the striker rises highest to nod at goal and it is deflected wide. But Cameroon manage to ride out the early storm, hacking away a corner.
Updated
1 min: Canada win an early corner, there is bit of argy-bargy between Fleming and Yango, but Cameroon clear. Good start by the Canadians, though.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeep!
Canada get the ball rolling in Montpellier.
Canada and Cameroon trot out to the sound of Seven Nation Army, and we are just the national anthems away from kick-off.
Updated
The teams are in the tunnel. Here we go ... !
Any pre-match thoughts, prediction or things to get off your chest? “I’m watching it in Ottawa,” emails Ivan. “We’ll soon see if Canada’s younger players can step up or if it will be up to Sinclair to do all the scoring. As much as I hate to say it, I think they’ll have a tough time against Cameroon today ...”
Now, then. This is Cameroon’s second appearance at a World Cup having reached the last 16 when making their debut in 2015 (losing 1-0 to China PR). And here is some further pre-match trivia: the defender Estelle Johnson is set to make her international debut for Cameroon in France despite having an American father and a Malian mother. The Sky Blue FC centre-back was born in Maroua, a city in the north of Cameroon, and pledged her allegiance to the country having been inspired by the team’s efforts at the 2015 World Cup. “As a team we want to perform better than we did in 2015 and we know we can achieve something interesting at the World Cup. I always wanted to play for Cameroon.”
Essential pre-match reading:
The teams!
Canada (4-4-2): Labbe; Lawrence, Buchanan, Zadorsky, Chapman; Prince, Scott, Schmidt, Beckie; Sinclair, Fleming
Subs: Quinn, Ross, Grosso, Riviere, Huitema, Carle, Sheridan, Leon, Woeller, D’Angelo, Agnew, Hellstrom
Cameroon (4-5-1): Ndom; Leuko, Awona, Manie, Johnson, Meffometou; Ajara, Feudjio, Tango, Onguene; Ndoumbouk
Subs: Ejangu, Ngono Mani, Meyong Menene, Abena, Sonkeng, Mambinga, Enganamouit, Akaba, Mbeleck, Takounda Engolo, Abam, Ongmahan
Referee: Hyang-Ok Ri (Korea)
Updated
Preamble
Welcome to Group E. Canada kick things off against Cameroon, who boast arguably the best – and most formidable-sounding – nickname at the tournament: the Indomitable Lionesses. Canada are ranked fifth in the world for a reason, though, and in 35-year-old Christine Sinclair, they have a prolific goalscorer, who can break the all-time goalscoring record, should she find three goals between now and the end of the World Cup. Sinclair is three short of the record of 184 goals held by American former World Cup winner Abby Wambach. “The second I lose that burning desire is the second I have to hang up the boots,” Sinclair says. “What motivates me right now is to win a World Cup.” And this represents the perfect chance to get off to a flyer.
Kick-off: 8pm (BST)
Updated
