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Croatia and Cameroon go head-to-head in the second round of the group stage encounters with the knowledge that a second consecutive defeat will mark the end of their journey in Brazil. With Croatia having lost to hosts Brazil and Cameroon going down to Mexico, this clash has earned even greater significance as both teams will go all out for a victory in the Amazonian city of Manaus.
Niko Kovac will be elated to welcome Mario Mandzukic and Danijel Pranjic back into the team after the duo sat out the opening game due to suspension and injury, respectively. Cameroon, meanwhile, might have to make do without their talismanic leader Samuel Eto’o as the striker skipped a couple of days of training after picking up a knee injury.
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VENUE: Arena Amazonia, Manaus
Situated at the heart of the breathtaking Amazon rainforest in the city of Manaus, the Arena Amazonia has an official seating capacity of 40,549. Although concerns were raised over the quality of the pitch ahead of the tournament, the first fixture between England and Italy went off without any major problems. This city is one of the hottest and most humid venues for this year’s World Cup.
KICK OFF
June 19 – 03:30 - IST
June 18 – 18:00 - Local Time
FACTS & STATS
- This is the first-ever meeting between Croatia and Cameroon.
- Cameroon will be Croatia’s first ever African opponents in a World Cup.
- Mario Mandzukic scored the maximum headed goals (seven) last season in club football out of the five major football leagues in Europe.
- Cameroon are yet to register a win in their last 5 WC matches. Their last win came against Saudi Arabia in the 2002 edition.
- Danijel Pranjic is not a natural left-back but has been drafted into that role because of the absence of Ivan Strinic.
- Out of the 46 players in both squads taken together, only three played in the Barclays Premier League last season.
- Croatia have conceded only 14 goals in their last 14 World Cup fixtures.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Volker Finke will have to choose between Vincent Aboubakar and Pierre Webo as the lone striker to replace the injured Samuel Eto’o. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged from the Mexico game.
Cameroon (4-3-3): Itanjde; Djeugoue, N’Koulou, Chedjou, Assou-Ekotto; Enoh, Song, Mbia,; Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting
Mario Mandzukic will take his place at the front in place of Jelavic while first choice left-back Danijel Pranjic is also expected to start this match. Kovac will be delighted to have his strongest possible starting eleven for this crucial match.
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Pranjic; Modric, Rakitic; Perisic, Kovacic, Olic; Mandzukic
KEY BATTLES
Luka Modric vs Alex Song
A mini El-Clasico will ensue as Madrid man Modric and Barcelona’s Alex Song will be taking each other on in the centre of midfield. Song, stationed as a deep-lying playmaker, will have to counter Modric’s agility and off-the-ball ability if Cameroon are to take anything away from this game. Modric, on the other hand, will have to ward off Song’s physicality and marking to orchestrate the midfield in his own tune.
Mario Mandzukic vs Nicolas N’Koulou
The Marseille centre-back might be an experienced head for Cameroon but he is poised to have one of his most harrowing nights as a defender with Mario Mandzukic returning for Croatia. Touted as the ‘best header of a football’ by Pep Guardiola, Mandzukic’s exceptional heading ability will be Croatia’s best weapon in this game. The crossing ability of Croatian full-backs, Srna and Pranjic, will make Mario an even greater threat for Cameroon’s back four.
PREDICTION
Croatia were hard done by in their opening game against Brazil and an improved showing by their midfield duo of Modric and Rakitic along with the return of Mandzukic should ensure a comfortable victory for the Vatreni. Cameroon will find it difficult to cope with the quality and technicality of this Croatian side, more so without Samuel Eto’o.
Croatia 3 – 0 Cameroon
HOW GROUP A STANDS
|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Goal Diff | Points |
| Brazil | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 |
| Mexico | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 4 |
| Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Pedro Proenca (POR)
Assistant Referee 1: Bertino Miranda (POR)
Assistant Referee 2: Jose Trigo (POR)
Fourth official: Walter Lopez (GUA)
