Date: June 18, 2014
Result: Cameroon 0-4 Croatia
Scorers:
- Ivica Olic 11
- Ivan Perisic 47
- Mario Mandzukic 62
- Mario Mandzukic 73
Venue: Arena Amazonia, Manaus
Attendance: 39,216
Match overview: This will be the first ever game between Cameroon and Croatia. Croatia have not won any of their last five World Cup matches (L3 D2), with their last finals victory coming in 2002 versus Italy (2-1). Cameroon have lost their last five World Cup matches; the longest losing streak of any African nation at the tournament.
Key moment: The dismissal of Alex Song. Utter idiocy from the Barcelona man as he lashed out at Mario Mandzukic. Effectively ended the match as a contest.
Man of the match: Ivan Perisic. Outstanding all-round performance. Created the opening goal with a wonderful pass to Ivica Olic and then capitalised on a poor goal kick to score Croatia’s second.
Matter of fact: This was the first time Croatia have ever scored four goals in a World Cup match. Cameroon recorded their sixth successive defeat at the World Cup finals – the first team to do that since El Salvador between 1970-82.
Talking point: Croatia look a very well organised side. Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic provide a superbly balanced midfield, while the return from suspension of Mario Mandzukic offers much needed firepower to Niko Kovac’s side.
Stats:
Goal attempts
- Cameroon 18
- Croatia 22
On target
- Cameroon 8
- Croatia 14
Corners
- Cameroon 74
- Croatia 7
Line-ups:
Cameroon:
- 16 Itandje
- 17 Mbia
- 02 Assou-Ekotto
- 21 Matip
- 03 N’Koulou
- 14 Chedjou (Nounkeu – 45′ )
- 08 Moukandjo
- 06 Song
- 10 Aboubakar (Webó – 70′ )
- 18 Enoh
- 13 Choupo-Moting (Salli – 75′ )
Croatia:
- 01 Pletikosa
- 11 Srna
- 03 Pranjic
- 07 Rakitic
- 05 Corluka
- 06 Lovren
- 04 Perisic (Rebic – 78′ )
- 10 Modric
- 17 Mandzukic
- 19 Cruz Campos (Kovacic – 72′ )
- 18 Olic (Eduardo – 69′)
Scorers:
- Ivica Olic 11
- Ivan Perisic 47
- Mario Mandzukic 62
- Mario Mandzukic 73
Red card:
- Song 40
Yellow cards:
Croatia:
- Eduardo 89
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
