#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Croatia 1 - 3 Mexico

Three goals in less than 10 second-half minutes gave Mexico a convincing 3-0 win against Croatia to book their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Rafael Marquez opened the scoring on 72 minutes when he rose highest from a corner, before Andres Guardado made it 2-0 minutes later when he fired into the roof of the net to cap off a quick counter-attack.

Substitute Javier Hernandez made the result safe with eight minutes remaining when the Manchester United striker headed home from close range.

Ivan Perisic clawed one back for the European side when he squeezed his effort in from a tight angle, but it was to be Mexico's night, and the South Americans finished the group stage on seven points alongside Brazil.

However, the hosts' superior 'goals scored' column means they went through as group winners meaning the Mexicans will now face a daunting-looking game with the Netherlands.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Croatia Vs Mexico

It's winner takes all in Recife on Monday evening, with Croatia and Mexico both battling to extend their stay at the World Cup beyond the group stages of the competition.

As it stands, the Mexicans have four points and are second only on goal difference to hosts Brazil, with the Croatians a point further back in third. As a result, the Eastern Europeans must win to ensure that their interest in the competition extends into the second round, while Mexico only need a draw.

In terms of team selection, Croatia were boosted by the return of Mario Mandzukic from suspension last time out and the Bayern Munich frontman is expected to lead the line again against Mexico.

Meanwhile, Manchester United's Javier Hernandez has started the previous two group games on the bench, but there is speculation that he could be handed a place in the starting lineup this time around.

These two sides last met competitively at the 2002 World Cup, with Mexico coming out on top 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Prior to that, Croatia won the previous two fixtures.

Recent form
Croatia: WDWWLW

Mexico: WWLLWD

Possible starting lineups

Croatia: Pletikosa; Srna, Lovren, Corluka, Pranjic; Modric, Rakitic; Perisic, Kovacic, Olic; Mandzukic

Mexico: Ochoa; Rodriguez, Marquez, Herrera, Layun; Dos Santos, Moreno, Guardado, Peralta, Aguilar; Hernadez

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP: Cameroon 0 - 4 Croatia

Cameroon have crashed out of the World Cup at the hands of Croatia in a 4-0 defeat in Manuas as a brace from Mario Mandzukic kept Niko Kovac's side's hopes of reaching the second round alive.

The game started evenly as both sides enjoyed spells of possession, but Kovac's side took the lead in the 11th minute when Cameroon failed to clear their lines from a cross and Ivan Perisic found Olic at the back post with a low cross to fire home.

Croatia could have doubled their lead minutes later when Volker Finke's side struggled again to clear the ball inside their own box and the ball fell to Perisic, but he could only fire over from close range.

Cameroon started to come back into the game later in the half but were unable to carve out many clear-cut opportunities as Stephane Mbia wasted an opening as he blasted over from a tight angle, with better options available in the box.

However, this brief bit of optimism was short-lived for Finke's side as just before the break they were reduced to 10 men when Alex Song was given a straight red card for an elbow on Mandzukic as he attempted to raid upfield.

After the break, Croatia doubled their lead as Perisic scored a brilliant goal of his own making when he ran the length of the pitch and into the box. The winger then blasted an effort past Charles Itanjde at his near post with a powerful strike.

Mandukic had the chance to put his side out of his sight when he latched onto a through ball from Ivan Rakitic, but as he tried to lob Itanje he put his effort just wide of the post.

However, the Bayern Munich striker was not to be denied as he headed Kovac's side three goals ahead when he rose highest in the area to power an effort into the top corner from Luka Modric's cross from the left.

Mandzukic doubled his tally for the game when he turned the ball in on the rebound from close range after Mateo Kovacic's effort was well saved by Itandje. Rakitic could have added a fifth late on, but he somehow missed the target after being put through by Ante Rebic.

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Cameroon Vs Croatia

Cameroon and Croatia will both be looking to recover from defeats in their opening Group A fixtures when the two sides meet in Manaus on Wednesday night.

For Croatia, it was the hosts who stood in the way on the first night of the tournament as they suffered a 3-1 loss to Brazil in a match which sparked angry responses from the players and head coach Niko Kovac after Fred won a controversial penalty for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side.

Despite the frustration, Kovac's side received a boost ahead of their clash with Cameroon thanks to the news that Luka Modric is likely to play a full part after picking up a foot injury in the opener, while the return of Mario Mandzukic from suspension provides another attacking option.

Mexico proved to be too strong for Cameroon last Friday, with Oribe Peralta's strike condemning the Indomitable Lions to a crucial defeat in their opening game.

Cameroon will be without one of their own key players, with Samuel Eto'o confirming that he will miss the meeting with the Croatians due to a knee problem.

Pierre Webo is expected to be named as the replacement for Eto'o in a game which could see one of the two sides eliminated from the tournament.

Recent form
Cameroon: LWLDWL

Croatia: DWDWWL

Possible starting lineups

Cameroon: Itandje; Djeugoue, N'Koulou, Matip, Bedimo; M'Bia, Song, Enoh; Moukandjo, Choupo-Moting, Eto'o

Croatia: Pletikosa; Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, Kovacic; Olic, Jelavic

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#2014FIFAWORLDCUP PREVIEW: Brazil Vs Croatia

MATCHDAY PREVIEW – Record five-time winners and host nation Brazil will ensure a sprinkling of prestige and history as they kick off the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup™ against an ambitious Croatia side with nothing to lose. All the pressure will be on Neymar and Co in Sao Paulo, with an entire nation desperate for a winning start to their World Cup odyssey on home soil. Niko Kovac's cosmopolitan squad boast the tools to spoil the party, however, drawing talent from some of the biggest clubs in Europe and featuring just two players based in Croatia.

Thursday's encounter will also be the first World Cup finals game contested in the Americas since 17 July 1994, when Brazil defeated Italy 3-2 on penalties at the end of a goalless draw in Los Angeles to clinch their fourth title.

The match
Brazil-Croatia, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Thursday 12 June, 17.00 (local time)

Did you know?
- Friends reunited: Brazil and Croatia crossed paths eight years ago on 13 June 2006, with Berlin the backdrop as they got the ball rolling in Group F at Germany 2006. The South American side were given a genuine test by their technically gifted rivals and were left grateful to Kaka's goal just before the break as they began with a slender win. None of the Seleção players that day will be involved this time around, but two of Croatia's 23-man squad will be stepping back into the breach: goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and captain Darijo Srna. So too, of course, will Niko Kovac, who contested that game alongside his brother and assistant coach Robert. Niko, 42, won 83 caps in total before replacing Igor Stimac last October and helping turn Croatia back into a competitive force.

- Cutting edge: For the very first time in a World Cup fixture, Goal-Line Technology (GLT) will be used. The GoalControl-4D system is equipped with 14 high-speed cameras located around the pitch, with seven cameras focusing on each goalmouth. Special detection software determines whether the ball has fully crossed the goal-line, and if it has, the central processing unit automatically sends an encrypted radio signal to the referee's watch less than a second later, indicating a goal by means of a vibration and visual signal.

Suspended player
Mario Mandžukić (CRO) - Bayern Munich forward. 48 caps (13 goals)

Check it out
The Vatreni boast their very own naturalised Brazilian in striker Eduardo da Silva, who could potentially have been gearing up for this game in the opposition camp. To find out more about Croatia's atypical marksman, read his recent interview with FIFA.com on the right hand side.

On this day
On 12 June 1938, Brazil had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their quarter-final against Czechoslovakia at France 1938, despite a goal from Leonidas and 30 minutes of extra time. The teams thus reconvened 48 hours later, locking horns in Bordeaux once again, and this time second-half strikes from Leonidas and Roberto sealed a 2-1 comeback win. A Seleção paid for those exertions two days later, however, losing 2-1 to Italy after having rested Leonidas for the Final. Their marathon effort of 300 competitive minutes in the space of four days remains a record.

Source: Fifa.com

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