Cameroon v Croatia: Group A whipping boys in for another defeat to nil

Modric to lead Croatia to a routine win over Cameroon

Lewis Jones gets his teeth stuck into a Group A fixture, which brings together these two nations for the first time, and is all over Croatia to win and win with a clean sheet...

Cameroon v Croatia
Wednesday 16 June, 23:00
Live on ITV1

Croatia

Niko Kovac's men gave a really good account of themselves in the World Cup opener which now seems like an age ago.

After taking an early lead thanks to some incisive attacking play only two moments of individual brilliance - aided by some suspect goalkeeping - and a horrendous penalty decision were the difference between them and Brazil.

That 3-1 defeat will have dented the confidence slightly but play like that here and three points are well within their grasp.

Kovac can welcome back star striker Mario Mandzukic, who was suspended for the opener.

Cameroon

On the balance of play from their match with Mexico last week, Cameroon were lucky to escape with just a one goal defeat.

Mexico had two goals wrongly called offside and were very much in control for the majority of the game.

It certainly appeared from watching the Africans is that they have a touch of the "bad in both boxes" disease, which restricts so many teams from getting results.

Worringly for Cameroon fans, Samuel Eto'o is out of the Group A match after the striker confirmed his knee injury sustained against Mexico will keep him sidelined.

The striker took to Twitter to tell of the news, and it means Cameroon's all-time top goalscorer will not be able to help them keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Eto'o wrote: 'The doctors confirm! I would probably not be able to play the match vs Croatia on Wed June 18th due to an injury on my knee causing me pain.'

Match Odds

Here, we could be looking at one of the biggest gambles of the entire World Cup so far.

The market support behind Croatia has been absolutely huge even before the new about Eto'o broke.

The Europeans opened up when the market was formed around the 2.26/5 mark but that price is now a thing of the past since the stampede of money came for them after the opening games in this group.

You can get just 1.68/13 for a Croatia win and to be honest it's now not a price I'd want to get involved with even though the favourites have a hugely strong chance of running out victors over a very average Cameroon side.

At odds-against, yes, strong odds on? Not for me thanks.

Cameroon have lost their last five World Cup matches; the longest losing streak of any African nation at the tournament, and they are a friendless 6.86/1 to end that run with a win here. The draw is a 4.216/5 chance.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

This market is one where the hot and sticky humid conditions of the Arena da Amazonia in the Brazilian rainforest will have an effect on the market and actually bring forward a trading opportunity.

I don't need to go into the details about conditions in Manaus after England's game with Italy but to cut an already well told story short, energy levels are easily sapped as the match wares on.

England lost their drive and pace in the last 25 minutes in that clash, and a game that looked set to roar past the over 3.5 goals at one stage, fell flat with no more goals in the final 37 minutes.

When you consider the heat and the flaccid nature of Cameroon and to a certain extent Croatia's attack (they failed to score against Scotland twice in qualifying), the 1.9210/11 for Under 2.5 Goals looks a selection to take very seriously, especially from a Cash Out view as it will surely trade shorter if the game slows to a crawl at times in the heat.

Win To Nil

A wise man once told me never to fix something if it isn't broke, and now is the time to make use of those words of wisdom.

We made a tidy profit from backing Mexico to win to nil against Cameroon and I see no reason to go against that bet again, even though the price is trading a little shorter at 2.68/5 here.

The Indomitable Lions have scored just seven goals in their last 12 World cup matches, and never more than once during this run.

In qualifying they only averaged just 1.13 goals a game in a qualifying group that contained the likes of DR Congo and Libya and with now Eto'o on the sidelines, scoring goals are going to be even more of struggle.

Cameroon only registered one shot on target in the whole of their opening group stage game against Mexico. More of the same please, lads.

Recommended Bet
Back Croatia to Win to Nil @ 2.68/5 (3pts)

Best Cashout Tip
Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.9210/11

World Cup 2014 P/L

Staked: 7pts
Returned: 10.12pts
P/L: +3.12pts