Recife: Niko Kovac says his Croatia side are facing their own World Cup ‘final’ against Mexico on Monday (Tuesday in India) with only a win guaranteeing them a place in the last-16.
Croatia bounced back from their opening 3-1 defeat to hosts Brazil in Group A with a 4-0 demolition of Cameroon last week to keep their knock-out dreams alive.
Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as Croatia sent 10-man Cameroon crashing out of the tournament in disarray.
Wolfsburg pair Ivica Olic and Ivan Perisic also got on the scoresheet, but Croatia still remain third in the table behind leaders Brazil and Mexico.
Kovac knows his side face an uphill task against Miguel Herrera’s side in Recife in the wake of Mexico’s confidence-boosting draw with Brazil.
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa wrote himself into World Cup folklore with a string of top-class saves including one from point-blank range to deny Brazil’s Neymar in Fortaleza last Tuesday (Wednesday in India).
A draw against Croatia would be enough to put Mexico through after their goalless draw with Brazil and 1-0 win over Cameroon. (AFP)