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BRASILIA. — Niko Kovac says his Croatia side are facing their own World Cup soccer “final” against Mexico today with only a win guaranteeing them a place in the last 16. The match kicks-off at 10pm. Croatia bounced back from their opening 3-1 defeat to hosts Brazil in Group A with a 4-0 demolition of Cameroon last Wednesday to keep their knockout 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. — Soccernet.