Cameroon v Croatia 2300BST

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Cameroon v Croatia

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Head-to-head

• This is the first meeting of these two nations.
• Croatia are unbeaten in three previous meetings against African opposition, which were all friendlies). They beat Mali 2-1 last month in a World Cup warm-up match.
• Cameroon's Stephane M'Bia and Ivan Rakitic of Croatia are team-mates at Sevilla.

Cameroon

• Cameroon have lost their last five World Cup matches - the longest ever losing streak by an African country. They have only won one of their last 14 (D4, L9).
• They have not made it past the group stage in their last four World Cup appearances since reaching the quarter-finals in 1990.
• The Indomitable Lions have gone 12 consecutive World Cup matches without scoring more than one goal since a 2-2 draw with Sweden in 1994. The only longer such streak in World Cup history is 18 by Uruguay, set between 1970 and 2002.
• Samuel Eto'o has scored Cameroon's last three World Cup goals.

Croatia

• Croatia have failed to win any of their last five World Cup matches. Defeat against Cameroon would represent the longest winless streak by a European nation at the World Cup.
• They suffered their first defeat in six matches under Niko Kovac against Brazil last Thursday.
• Mario Mandzukic was Croatia's four-goal top scorer in World Cup qualifying. He has scored 10 goals in his last 27 caps.

 

Couldn't be arsed to tell us kick off time then?

 

whoops! see what happens if I post before I've had my caffeine fix">

 

Tea or coffee caffeine?

 

Tea for me. Not a coffee drinker.

 

We have to win both remaining games to go trough.

 

Croatia only narrowly made it past Iceland as well in the play offs. Not managing to score against 10 man Iceland in the first leg.

 

Kickoff time edited in. Croatia have to take this chance to put some pressure on Brazil and Mexico.

 

Not necessarily, draw with Cameroon and beat Mexico and you'll almost certainly progress, though it seems like it would be easier to do it the other way (and that wouldn't be enough, unless Cameroon somehow beat Brazil).

 

I know, but if we drew with Cameroon, we need to win against Mexico with two goal margin. And I'd rather not count on that.

 

You can do this - and I hope you do. Kind of become my second team this tournament.

 

Dejan starts again.

 

Make or break.

 

Two ex spurs players (Corluka & Modric), both popular at the lane and been involved in some great games for us. Hope to see Croatia get through as they should have got a point against Brazil and missed the aerial threart of Mandzukic.

 

Croatia to win, surely?

 

I think Croatia will make it though - at least, I hope so!

 

And WGS says Hoddle picks a good side... As long as the opponents don't have an attack He's still ace!

 

Don't know anything about Sammir, anyone else?

 

Brasilian, played five years for Dinamo Zagreb, got Croatian nationality. Currently at Getafe.

 

Surely only one outcome tonight. A Croatian win?