World Cup 2014 Brazil » Group A » Live commentary: Cameroon - Croatia 0:4

Full-Time Cameroon experience a debacle in Manaus and are out of the World Cup 2014! Croatia had no problems in the second half against an unmotivated and unorganised side of Volker Finke und could have scored even more than four goals. The three Bundesliga-legionaries Ivica Olić, Ivan Perišić and Mario Mandžukić were the key players tonight, scoring all the goals and creating a lot of other dangerous situations. They profit from the moment of madness of Alex Song near the end of the first half which had him sent off and Cameroon competing with only ten players in the heat of Manaus. There will be a lot of discussion around Volker Finke and his team after this dreadfull performance. For the African side the last game against Brazil will be all about damage control and leaving the World Cup with some dignity. Entirely different is the situation for Croatia. The side of Nico Kovac has a real finale on its hands against Mexico. If the Croatian win on monday they will go through to the last sixteen. But this is the future, for now we say thank you for your attendance and wish you a good night.

Eduardo (Croatia) is shown a yellow card
The Croatian midfielder steps on the ankle of Edgar Salli and Proença does well booking Eduardo.

Symptomatic! Benjamin Moukandjo finds a lot of space and time in the left corner of the Croatian box. But his shot flies past the far corner and hits the advertising board.

A lot of changes on both sites now. Nico Kovac grants his topscorers Perišić and Olić an early finishing time. Younger players like Ante Rebić can use this game to gain more experience now.

That shot was better! Stéphane Mbia is not attacked by the Croation defense and tries his luck from 25 meter. His bended shot misses the crossbar by inches.

Goooal for Croatia, 0:3 by Mario Mandžukić
This is it! Mario Mandžukić destroys all the hopes for the not so indomitable lions at this World Cup. The forward slams a corner by Danijel Pranjić with a stunning header past Itandje. But again the Cameroonian defender made it far to easy to score.

But Croatia is still the better side at the moment and quite close to their third goal. This time it is Ivica Olić who receives a cross from the right wing but misses the Cameroonian goal with his shot.

And Mandžukić almost makes it 3:0! The forward receives a great through-ball by Sammir and encounters Itandje in an one-on-one duel. But in contrast to his teammate Perišić the Bayern Munich forward can't score the third goal for Croatia. His lob misses the goal by one meter.

The game continues in Manaus and Volker Finke brings on his first substition. Dany Nounkeu replaces Aurelien Chedjou, new power for the indomitable lions.

Half-Time An quite entertaining first half in Manaus sees Croatia one goal and one man ahead of Cameroon. The African side made a good first impression but Ivica Olić poured cold water on the Cameroon plans with his 1:0 in the 11th minute. Soon afterwards it was Perišić who almost scored a second one before the Croatian concentrated on defending again. The Cameroonian attackers found no spaces between the thick defensive lines of the Croatian and therefore Stipe Pletikosa hadn't had the chance to show his skills even once. To add to this Cameroonian misery Alex Song was sent off shortly before half-tine after he slamed his ellbow into the back of Mario Mandžukić. It will be a very tough challenge for Cameroon to prevent an early elimination from this World Cup.

Alex Song (Cameroon) is sent off
What a stupid action by Alex Song! Cameroon loses the ball during an attack and while Perišić is breaking through on the left wing Alex Song slams his ellbow in the back of Mandžukić who wanted to support his teammate during the counterattack. Pedro Proença has a perfect view on the situation and hesitates not a moment to take the approbiate action. He pulls out the red card an Cameroon has to finish this game with ten players.

Mbai with a nice one-two on the right site with Alex Song. Mbia enters the Croatian box but his cross is cleared by Dejan Lovren.

Dario Srna is hit by Eyong Enoh during a duel in midfield. The Croatian full-back is carried out of the pitch for a short treatment but can return to the match shortly afterwards.

Again the Cameroonian with an attack on their strong right wing. The combination ends at Stéphane Mbia who has a go from a very tight angle. He should have tried a cross because his shot is absolutly no danger for the Croatian goal.

And that corner almost gives Croatia a two-goal lead! Danijel Pranjić serves the corner from the left site and Ivica Olić extends the cross with his hip. Ivan Perišić receives the ball and has only Charles Itandje in front of him but fails to but the ball past the good reacting keeper.

Goooal for Croatia, 0:1 by Ivica Olić
The first real attack of the Croatian side and suddenly Cameroon are 1:0 behind! Srna with a nice cross from the right wing and in the center it is Mandžukić who makes a great lay-off with his chest to Perišić. Perišić sees Ivica Olić at the edge of the six-yard box and plays a fantastic pass. Olić has no problem to bring home the 1:0 lead with his left foot.

Vincent Aboubakar is really willing to show his skills tonight. The forward breaks through on the right site and can only be stopped by a foul by Dejan Lovren. Free kick close to the box ...

The game is under way! Both teams wear their useall dress. Cameroon their red shorts and green jerseys and the Croatian their white-red checkered jerseys.

The referee tonight is the Portugese Pedro Proença. He is taking a last look around. Both sides are ready, the game will start every second now!

The complete lineups of both teams can be seen here

While Kovac has nothing to worry about injuries his counterpart Volker Finke must handle the absence of Samuel Eto'o. The Cameroonian super-star has severe pain in his right knee and is not even sitting on the bench. The pain is the result of an old injury Eto'o suffered four months ago and never healed properly. Eto'o is replaced by Vincent Aboubakar. Finke makes another change compared to the first match against Mexico. Joel Matip replaces Cédric Djeugoue.

Also two important players are returning to the starting eleven. The experienced Danijel Pranjić replaces young Šime Vrsaljko as a right full-back and Bayern Munich forward Mario Mandžukić is supposed to score the goals for "The Blazers“ instead of Nikica Jelavic. Mandžukić was the one who scored the very important 1:0 against Iceland during the second playoff match but was later send off with a red card and therefore missed the first game.

Both teams had a bad to start to the World Cup. Croatia lost the opening game against the home side Brazil with 1:3. Cameroon were defeated by Mexico with 0:1 and were even lucky that the referee disallowed two goals for the Mexican side. Therefore both teams need to score their first points tonight if they want to reach the last sixteen.