Group A: Cameroon vs Croatia
Venue: Arena Amazonia, Manaus
Kick-off: 11pm (6pm, Brazil time)
TV coverage: ITV1, from 10.35pm
Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)
Managers: Volker Finke (Cameroon)
Niko Kovac (Croatia)
One to watch: Mario Mandzukic
Suspended for Croatia’s opening match against Brazil, the Bayern Munich striker will be looking to make up for lost time on his World Cup debut. Brilliant at holding up the ball and bringing others into play, Mandzukic is also a huge threat in the air, something his team’s full backs will look to exploit.
Key clash: Alex Song vs Luka Modric
A mini-Clasico will take place in central midfield between two players that left north London for La Liga two summers ago as Barcelona’s Song, formerly of Arsenal, lines up against ex-Spurs star Modric, now of Real Madrid. It will be fascinating to see how the two fare in Manaus coming off the back of very contrasting seasons. The latter enjoyed a fantastic campaign at club level, while the former endured a stop-start one at the Nou Camp.
History lesson
This is Croatia’s first ever match against an African side.
Did you know?
Cameroon took 91 minutes to have an effort at goal in their first game against Mexico.
Head-to-head record:
Played 0
Opta stats:
- This will be the first ever game between Cameroon and Croatia.
- This is also Croatia’s first ever World Cup game against an African side.
- Cameroon have won only one of their 13 World Cup games against European sides (2-1 v Romania in 1990), drawing five and losing seven.
- Cameroon have only won one of their last 14 World Cup games (1-0 v Saudi Arabia in 2002), drawing four and losing nine.
- Cameroon have lost their last five World Cup matches; the longest losing streak of any African nation at the tournament.
- The Indomitable Lions have scored just seven goals in their last 12 World cup matches, and never more than once during this run.
- Croatia will have Mario Mandzukic available for selection for the first time in this World Cup finals tournament. No player scored more headed goals than the Bayern Munich striker in the top five European leagues in 2013-14 (7).
- Cameroon only attempted one shot on target in the whole of their opening group stage game against Mexico and this came in the 91st minute.
- Cameroon have played 21 World Cup matches overall and their one shot on target tally against Mexico in the opening game was the fewest they’ve ever mustered in a WC finals match.
- Croatia have not won any of their last five World Cup matches (L3 D2), with their last WC finals victory coming in 2002 versus Italy (2-1).
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