Cameroon will face off against Croatia this evening at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus.Croatia were thumped 3-1 by Brazil in the first game of the tournament and have had a week to lick their wounds and regroup. A strong, attack minded team, Croatia will not take this evening’s game lightly, and are all too aware of Cameroon’s lightning pace on the break. They didn’t simply roll over against the hosts and were able to muster a disciplined display to stop the tournament favourites from overrunning them completely.

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This will be the first match that these two particular sides have met in international football, so neither team will have much idea of what to expect once they are out on the pitch. Cameroon are currently misfiring in front of goal, without getting a single shot on target last week against Mexico. Equally disappointing for them is the fact that they haven’t won any of their previous 14 World Cup fixtures, bar one. Croatia have the best defensive record in the finals this year having only let in 14 goals, better than any of the other 32 teams in contention this year.

Owing to the crucial draw that Mexico secured with hosts Brazil, Group A is now a bubbling cauldron, with both of tonight’s opponents needing to secure a win to stay mathematically in the running for qualification into the next round. Croatia will be expected to start with mandzukic up front, after a convincing display against Brazil, alongside Perisic and Olic, a trio fed by one Kovacic with Srna and Vrsaljko on the wings. This is a very potent, attacking line-up with the “Indomitable Lions” who are stars of the African Nations Cup expected to bely that nickname as they usually do in any international outside the comfort of their own continent.

With Luka Modric also expected to get a look in this evening, along with the other elite playmaker Rakitic, Cameroon could easily get torn apart this evening. However, Cameroon have pace, and should they manage to turn the back four in the form of Aboubakar or Choupo-Moting, we may just have a game on our hands. Of course that leaves Croatia’s Pletikosa, who has been in fine form so far, despite letting in 3 against Brazil. Some of his reaction saves and quick thinking have truly been those befitting a world class ‘keeper.

Alex Song will be expected to bring his bags of Premier League experience to the party tonight, with a win for the Indomitable Lions an absolute must if they are to avoid an early flight home. Assou Ekotto will bring Premier League experience of almost equal measure to that of Song, having spent time at Tottenham Hotspur and will need to be sharp to deal with the likes of Modric and Rakitic. One of the biggest questions for Cameroon is if they should start Samuel Eto’o or not, with him having a few niggles to deal with. Whatever happens, this particular encounter should make for some interesting viewing, even if Cameroon aren’t really expected to bother turning up, as is usually the case.