Cameroon v Croatia: Modric and co to seal African’s early exit
Published:Round two of group games offers some nations the chance to get their World Cup campaigns back on track, while for others it simply inscribes the writing on the wall. Croatia and Cameroon fit that particular bill perfectly.
In their first game against Brazil, this talented Croatian team were forced to play the favourites, a partisan crowd, a nation and most importantly the referee who awarded the spongiest of penalties.
However, against a Cameroon team which were beaten 1-0 by a fairly ordinary Mexico outfit (which should have been 3-0 had it not been for further poor officiating) Croatia can revive their fortunes.
As we’ve already alluded to, after matching Brazil for the most part in their opener, there was plenty to suggest that Croatia can bounce back against Cameroon.
Led by the twinkle toes of Luka Modric, the Croats are adept at stroking it around and now they have star striker Mario Mandzukic back in the fold after suspension they’ll be that much more dangerous.
Cameroon meanwhile, looked very ragged at times during defeat to Mexico and lack identity.
With Bayern Munich’s top scorer back to lead the line, Croatia’s cutting edge just got a whole lot sharper.
Mandzukic joint-top scored at Euro 2012 and considering Niko Kovac’s side have found the net in all of their last five matches, as well as notching twice in three of those, Cameroon’s wobbly defence could become cake-like.
This is a feat which Croatia had achieved in three of their previous four internationals before they bumped into the Brazil.
Volke Finke’s Indomitable Lions looked anything but against Mexico and although they only lost 1-0 to a second-half strike, it should have been 2-0 at half-time after Giovani Dos Santos had a legitimate brace scrubbed off.
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