The Arena Pernambuco in Recife will later see Mexico take on Croatia in a game which will see Mexico trying to reach the last sixteen for sixth time in six World Cups. Croatia have no such record, having been a stranger to the last sixteen since 1998 when they were debutants to the World Cup and managed to reach the semi finals. A win for either team this evening would be enough to get through to the last sixteen, owing to the fact that Brazil will probably see off Cameroon who are currently bottom of the group on zero points. Mexico are in second on four points and need to beat Croatia in order to get through, but this would also guarantee Brazil a berth in the last sixteen should the unthinkable happen and Cameroon triumph this evening.
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Croatia manager Niko Kovac said “The match against Mexico will be like a final in itself. Mexico are very strong but so are we. The Mexico players are very patriotic, just like us and they have a great team spirit. They play some very aggressive football with a lot of pressing. They are strong going forward with some weaknesses in defence, like Brazil showed us.” Croatia’s record against Mexico is actually quite good, with two wins to Mexico’s one. However both of these wins were friendlies, whereas Mexico’s came in the 2002 World Cup, Blanco scoring a decisive penalty. The sides have met six times in total, since Niko Kovac took the reins, with the other three meetings chalked up as draws.
Mexico did no damage to their qualifying chances at all by holding Brazil to a goalless draw and beating Cameroon in their opening day fixture. This leaves them in the enviable position of needing only a point to get through, but Miguel Herrera, the Mexico coach insists that his side will be playing for more than just one point. He said: “The guys know that they can squander the great things they have achieved so far at this tournament, should they not play t o win on Monday. If you go into a game expecting just to draw, then you are most likely setting yourself up to lose it. Croatia know they have to win, so we will go out there and defend, then we will hope to take advantage of the spaces they leave open because they have to attack to stay in the tournament.”
Mexico’s man of the moment is currently Oribe Peralta who has managed an impressive return of eight goals in his last six appearances. Javier Hernandez, while Mexico’s top scorer, has enjoyed no such luck, being on a goal drought which has now stretched to eleven games. On Croatia’s goals list is Mario Mandzukic who scored four goals in qualifying and has scored twelve goals in his last twenty eight internationals. This game will definitely be one to watch with both teams going for the metaphorical jugular and both teams having prolific strikers as well as very strong, attacking styles.
