Croatia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Last updated

Croatia participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This was their fourth appearance having missed out on 2010.

Contents

Qualifying

Croatia was in Group A of UEFA's World Cup qualifications. They played alongside Belgium, Serbia, Scotland, Wales and Macedonia. Croatia finished as runner-up in the group and entered the Second Round play-offs where the team beat Iceland and qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Croatia national team was led by manager Igor Štimac until October 16, 2013 when he was, due to a series of bad results, replaced by Niko Kovač. [1]

The complete results of the group stage

Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg1–0Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Jelavić Soccerball shade.svg69' Report
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Attendance: 13,883
Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)
Belgium  Flag of Belgium (civil).svg1–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Gillet Soccerball shade.svg45+1' Report Perišić Soccerball shade.svg6'
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Attendance: 39,987
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
North Macedonia  Flag of North Macedonia.svg1–2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Ibraimi Soccerball shade.svg16' Report Ćorluka Soccerball shade.svg33'
Rakitić Soccerball shade.svg60'
Philip II Arena, Skopje
Attendance: 25,230
Referee: Peter Rasmussen (Denmark)
Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–0Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Mandžukić Soccerball shade.svg27'
Eduardo Soccerball shade.svg57'		 Report
Stadion Gradski vrt, Osijek
Attendance: 17,500
Referee: Alexandru Tudor (Romania)
Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–0Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Mandžukić Soccerball shade.svg23'
Olić Soccerball shade.svg37'		 Report
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Attendance: 35,722
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (Turkey)
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg1–2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Bale Soccerball shade.svg21' (pen.) Report Lovren Soccerball shade.svg77'
Eduardo Soccerball shade.svg87'
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Attendance: 12,534
Referee: Luca Banti (Italy)
Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg0–1Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Report Snodgrass Soccerball shade.svg26'
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Attendance: 25,016
Referee: David Fernández Borbalán (Spain)
Serbia  Flag of Serbia.svg1–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Mitrović Soccerball shade.svg66' Report Mandžukić Soccerball shade.svg53'
Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg1–2Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Kranjčar Soccerball shade.svg84' Report Lukaku Soccerball shade.svg16', 38'
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Howard Webb (England)
Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg2–0Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Snodgrass Soccerball shade.svg28'
Naismith Soccerball shade.svg73'		 Report
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 30,172
Referee: Ovidiu Hațegan (Romania)

The final standings were the following:

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flag of Croatia.svg Flag of Serbia.svg Flag of Scotland.svg Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Flag of North Macedonia.svg
1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 10820184+1426Qualification to 2014 FIFA World Cup — 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–0
2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 10523129+317Advance to second round 1–2 — 2–0 0–1 2–0 1–0
3Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 104241811+714 0–3 1–1 — 2–0 6–1 5–1
4Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 10325812−411 0–2 2–0 0–0 — 1–2 1–1
5Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 10316920−1110 0–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 — 1–0
6Flag of North Macedonia.svg  Macedonia 10217716−97 0–2 1–2 1–0 1–2 2–1 —
Source: [2]

Croatia qualified for the Second round where they eliminated Iceland with a 2-0 aggregate score after a two-round play-off series.

Iceland  Flag of Iceland.svg0–0Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Report
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík
Attendance: 9,767
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–0Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
Mandžukić Soccerball shade.svg27'
Srna Soccerball shade.svg47'		 Report
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Attendance: 22,612
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)

Players

Stipe Pletikosa and Mario Mandžukić are the only players that appeared in all 12 qualifying matches. Further more Pletikosa played the full 90 minutes of all the matches while Mandžukić was the top scorer with 4 achieved goal. Midfielder Marcelo Brozović and goalkeepers Danijel Subašić and Oliver Zelenika did not appear in any of the qualifying matches but made the final World Cup squad.

Complete list of players in the qualifying matches

#NameGames PlayedGoals
1 Mario Mandžukić 124
Stipe Pletikosa 120
3 Darijo Srna 111
4 Ivan Perišić 101
Luka Modrić 100
6 Vedran Ćorluka 91
Ivan Rakitić 91
Ivan Strinić [3] 90
Josip Šimunić [4] 90
10 Eduardo 72
Dejan Lovren 71
Ivica Olić 71
Ognjen Vukojević 70
14 Nikica Jelavić 61
Niko Kranjčar [5] 61
Mateo Kovačić 60
Domagoj Vida 60
18 Nikola Kalinić 50
19 Gordon Schildenfeld 40
20 Milan Badelj 30
Sammir 30
22 Danijel Pranjić 20
Ante Rebić 20
24 Leon Benko 10
Ivo Iličević 10
Josip Radošević 10
Šime Vrsaljko 10

Source: Croatian Football Federation

Player was not selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad

World Cup preparation

The Croatian national team's World Cup camp was in luxurious Tivoli Ecoresort near Praia do Forte and Mata de São João in Bahia. [6] The team played three friendly matches before the tournament.

5 March 2014 Friendly Switzerland  Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg2–2Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia St. Gallen, Switzerland
19:30 GMT Drmić Soccerball shade.svg33', 41' Report Olić Soccerball shade.svg39', 54'Stadium: AFG Arena
Attendance: 17,200
Referee: Hugo Filipe Ferreira de Campos Moreira Miguel (Portugal)
31 May 2014 Friendly Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg2–1Flag of Mali.svg  Mali Osijek, Croatia
14:00 GMT Perišić Soccerball shade.svg15', 63' Report Diarra Soccerball shade.svg79'Stadium: Gradski vrt
Attendance: 15,212
Referee: István Vad (Hungary)
6 June 2014 Friendly Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg1–0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Salvador, Brazil
Jelavić Soccerball shade.svg58' Report Stadium: Estádio de Pituaçu
Referee: Francisco Carlos do Nascimento (Brazil)

Draw

Croatia was drawn into Group A. Croatia's opponents in the first stage were Brazil, Cameroon and Mexico. The match between the Brazil and Croatia opened the World Cup tournament.

2014 World Cup squad

Coach: Niko Kovač

The final squad was announced on 31 May 2014. [7] With less than 48 hours until the opening game against Brazil, Milan Badelj was called up to replace the injured Ivan Močinić, after having previously been excluded from the final squad. [8]

No.Pos.PlayerDate of birth (age)CapsClub
11 GK Stipe Pletikosa (1979-01-08)8 January 1979 (aged 35)111 Flag of Russia.svg Rostov
22 DF Šime Vrsaljko (1992-01-10)10 January 1992 (aged 22)7 Flag of Italy.svg Genoa
32 DF Danijel Pranjić (1981-12-02)2 December 1981 (aged 32)50 Flag of Greece.svg Panathinaikos
43 MF Ivan Perišić (1989-02-02)2 February 1989 (aged 25)29 Flag of Germany.svg VfL Wolfsburg
52 DF Vedran Ćorluka (1986-02-05)5 February 1986 (aged 28)72 Flag of Russia.svg Lokomotiv Moscow
62 DF Dejan Lovren (1989-07-05)5 July 1989 (aged 24)25 Flag of England.svg Southampton
73 MF Ivan Rakitić (1988-03-10)10 March 1988 (aged 26)62 Flag of Spain.svg Sevilla [9]
83 MF Ognjen Vukojević (1983-12-20)20 December 1983 (aged 30)55 Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv
94 FW Nikica Jelavić (1985-08-27)27 August 1985 (aged 28)33 Flag of England.svg Hull City
103 MF Luka Modrić (1985-09-09)9 September 1985 (aged 28)75 Flag of Spain.svg Real Madrid
112 DF Darijo Srna (c) (1982-05-01)1 May 1982 (aged 32)112 Flag of Ukraine.svg Shakhtar Donetsk
121 GK Oliver Zelenika (1993-05-14)14 May 1993 (aged 21)0 Flag of Croatia.svg Lokomotiva [10]
132 DF Gordon Schildenfeld (1985-03-18)18 March 1985 (aged 29)21 Flag of Greece.svg Panathinaikos [11]
143 MF Marcelo Brozović (1992-10-16)16 October 1992 (aged 21)1 Flag of Croatia.svg Dinamo Zagreb
153 MF Milan Badelj (1989-02-25)25 February 1989 (aged 25)9 Flag of Germany.svg Hamburger SV
164 FW Ante Rebić (1993-09-21)21 September 1993 (aged 20)5 Flag of Italy.svg Fiorentina
174 FW Mario Mandžukić (1986-05-21)21 May 1986 (aged 28)50 Flag of Germany.svg Bayern Munich [12]
184 FW Ivica Olić (1979-09-14)14 September 1979 (aged 34)92 Flag of Germany.svg VfL Wolfsburg
193 MF Sammir (1987-04-23)23 April 1987 (aged 27)6 Flag of Spain.svg Getafe
203 MF Mateo Kovačić (1994-05-06)6 May 1994 (aged 20)10 Flag of Italy.svg Internazionale
212 DF Domagoj Vida (1989-04-29)29 April 1989 (aged 25)23 Flag of Ukraine.svg Dynamo Kyiv
224 FW Eduardo (1983-02-25)25 February 1983 (aged 31)63 Flag of Ukraine.svg Shakhtar Donetsk
231 GK Danijel Subašić (1984-10-27)27 October 1984 (aged 29)6 Flag of France.svg Monaco

Team captain: Darijo Srna

Matches

Round Robin

Standings

Legend
Group winners and runners-up advanced to the round of 16

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil (H)321072+57Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 321041+37
3Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 31026603
4Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 300319−80
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
(H) Hosts

Matches

Brazil vs Croatia

The two teams had met in two previous matches, including in the 2006 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Brazil 1–0. [13] Croatia forward Mario Mandžukić was suspended for the match, after being sent off in the team's final qualifier against Iceland. [14]

Croatia opened the scoring through a Marcelo own goal, as the ball bounced off him into the net after Nikica Jelavić deflected Ivica Olić's cross. [15] Neymar equalised for the hosts with a 25-yard (23 m) shot after receiving a pass from Oscar. [16] In the second half, Brazil took the lead with Neymar's penalty after Dejan Lovren was judged to have fouled Fred in the penalty area. [16] Croatia had a potential equaliser disallowed, after a foul was called on the Brazilian goalkeeper, Júlio César. [17] [18] [19] In added time, Oscar sealed the win, toe-poking the third goal for Brazil from 22 yards (20 m) after receiving a pass from Ramires. [16]

Post-match, FIFA referees chief Massimo Busacca defended the officials for awarding the penalty and insisted there had been some contact between Lovren and Fred, even if it was minimal. [20] On the other hand, renowned former top-level FIFA referee Markus Merk criticised FIFA for having Yuichi Nishimura as the referee in the opening match, labelling the refereeing in the match as "embarrassing". [21]

The game was notable for a number of pioneering events. This was the first occasion in FIFA World Cup history on which an own goal (which was also the first ever own goal scored by Brazil in World Cup finals) opened scoring in the tournament. As the first game played at this World Cup, the match also saw the first use of vanishing spray to mark free kick spots, and the advent of goal-line technology, two innovations introduced during the tournament. [22]

Brazil  Flag of Brazil.svg3–1Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Neymar Soccerball shade.svg29', 71' (pen.)
Oscar Soccerball shade.svg90+1'		 Report Marcelo Soccerball shade.svg11' (o.g.)
Arena de São Paulo, São Paulo
Attendance: 62,103
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Kit left arm brazil1415h.png
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Brazil
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Croatia
GK12 Júlio César
RB2 Dani Alves
CB3 Thiago Silva (c)
CB4 David Luiz
LB6 Marcelo
DM8 Paulinho Sub off.svg 63'
DM17 Luiz Gustavo Yellow card.svg 88'
RW7 Hulk Sub off.svg 68'
AM11 Oscar
LW10 Neymar Yellow card.svg 27'Sub off.svg 88'
CF9 Fred
Substitutions:
MF18 Hernanes Sub on.svg 63'
MF20 Bernard Sub on.svg 68'
MF16 Ramires Sub on.svg 88'
Manager:
Luiz Felipe Scolari
BRA-CRO 2014-06-12.svg
GK1 Stipe Pletikosa
RB11 Darijo Srna (c)
CB5 Vedran Ćorluka Yellow card.svg 65'
CB6 Dejan Lovren Yellow card.svg 69'
LB2 Šime Vrsaljko
CM10 Luka Modrić
CM7 Ivan Rakitić
RW4 Ivan Perišić
AM20 Mateo Kovačić Sub off.svg 61'
LW18 Ivica Olić
CF9 Nikica Jelavić Sub off.svg 78'
Substitutions:
MF14 Marcelo Brozović Sub on.svg 61'
FW16 Ante Rebić Sub on.svg 78'
 
Manager:
Niko Kovač

Man of the Match:
Neymar (Brazil) [23]

Assistant referees:
Toru Sagara (Japan)
Toshiyuki Nagi (Japan)
Fourth official:
Alireza Faghani (Iran)
Fifth official:
Hassan Kamranifar (Iran)

Cameroon vs Croatia

The two teams had never met before. [24]

In a match where both teams needed at least a point to stay alive in the competition, Croatia opened scoring when Ivica Olić scored from close range from Ivan Perišić's pass. Just before half time, Cameroon was reduced to ten men when Alex Song was dismissed for an off the ball incident with Mario Mandžukić. Perišić scored at the beginning of the second half when he intercepted Cameroonian goalkeeper Charles Itandje's goal kick and ran 50 yards before slotting in at the near post. Mandžukić scored the last two goals, the first a header from Danijel Pranjić's corner and the second a tap in after Itandje parried Eduardo's shot into his path. [25] The result confirmed Cameroon's elimination from the tournament.

In a case of infighting, Cameroonian defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto was caught on camera head-butting teammate Benjamin Moukandjo. [26] [27] Song later apologised to Mandžukić and his country for his ejection, while Cameroonian coach Volker Finke said he was very disappointed with their performance. [28] [29] [30]

On 1 July 2014, Cameroon officials announced that they had opened an investigation on claims that seven of the Cameroon's players were involved in fixing the result. [31] [32] FIFA, however, said there was no evidence that there were any match fixing in any of Cameroon's matches. [33]

Olić, who previously scored a goal in the 2002 World Cup, became the second player to have a 12-year gap between World Cup goals, after Michael Laudrup in 1986 and 1998. [34] Mandžukić became the first Croatian player to score a brace in a World Cup game. The 4–0 scoreline was also the biggest win by Croatia in the World Cup. [35]

Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svg0–4Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Report Olić Soccerball shade.svg11'
Perišić Soccerball shade.svg48'
Mandžukić Soccerball shade.svg61', 73'
Arena da Amazônia, Manaus
Attendance: 39,982
Referee: Pedro Proença (Portugal)
Kit left arm cameroon14h.png
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Cameroon
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Croatia
GK16 Charles Itandje
RB17 Stéphane Mbia
CB14 Aurélien Chedjou Sub off.svg 46'
CB3 Nicolas N'Koulou (c)
LB2 Benoît Assou-Ekotto
DM21 Joël Matip
CM6 Alex Song Red card.svg 40'
CM18 Eyong Enoh
RW13 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting Sub off.svg 75'
LW8 Benjamin Moukandjo
CF10 Vincent Aboubakar Sub off.svg 70'
Substitutions:
DF5 Dany Nounkeu Sub on.svg 46'
FW15 Pierre Webó Sub on.svg 70'
MF20 Edgar Salli Sub on.svg 75'
Manager:
Flag of Germany.svg Volker Finke
CMR-CRO 2014-06-18.svg
GK1 Stipe Pletikosa
RB11 Darijo Srna (c)
CB5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB6 Dejan Lovren
LB3 Danijel Pranjić
CM10 Luka Modrić
CM7 Ivan Rakitić
RW4 Ivan Perišić Sub off.svg 78'
AM19 Sammir Sub off.svg 72'
LW18 Ivica Olić Sub off.svg 69'
CF17 Mario Mandžukić
Substitutions:
FW22 Eduardo Yellow card.svg 89'Sub on.svg 69'
MF20 Mateo Kovačić Sub on.svg 72'
FW16 Ante Rebić Sub on.svg 78'
Manager:
Niko Kovač

Man of the Match:
Mario Mandžukić (Croatia)

Assistant referees:
Bertino Cunha (Portugal)
Tiago Trigo (Portugal)
Fourth official:
Walter López (Guatemala)
Fifth official:
Leonel Leal (Costa Rica)

Croatia vs Mexico

The two teams had met in three previous matches, including in the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Mexico 1–0. [36]

Coming into the final round of matches, Croatia needed to win to guarantee qualification to the knockout stage regardless of the result of Cameroon vs Brazil, while Mexico only needed a draw to do so. The game was goalless for the first 70 minutes, until a Héctor Herrera corner to the back post allowed Rafael Márquez to score from a header, outleaping the Croatian defenders. [37] With Croatia progressing only by way of a win, they were caught out on a break a short time later where Andrés Guardado scored after receiving a pass from Oribe Peralta. Mexico scored their third goal when Márquez flicked on Guardado's corner with substitute Javier Hernández scoring at the back post. Ivan Perišić scored in his second consecutive World Cup match after a neat back pass from Ivan Rakitić to get a consolation goal for Croatia in the closing minutes of the game, before Croatia's Ante Rebić was sent off for a foul on Carlos Peña. [38] Mexico qualified as group runners-up (behind Brazil on goal difference) on virtue of the win, while Croatia were eliminated.

With his goal, Márquez joined Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the only Mexican player to score in three World Cups. [39]

Croatia  Flag of Croatia.svg1–3Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Perišić Soccerball shade.svg87' Report Márquez Soccerball shade.svg72'
Guardado Soccerball shade.svg75'
Hernández Soccerball shade.svg82'
Arena Pernambuco, Recife
Attendance: 41,212
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
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Croatia
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Mexico
GK1 Stipe Pletikosa
RB11 Darijo Srna (c)
CB5 Vedran Ćorluka
CB6 Dejan Lovren
LB2 Šime Vrsaljko Sub off.svg 58'
CM7 Ivan Rakitić Yellow card.svg 9'
CM3 Danijel Pranjić Sub off.svg 74'
RW4 Ivan Perišić
AM10 Luka Modrić
LW18 Ivica Olić Sub off.svg 69'
CF17 Mario Mandžukić
Substitutions:
MF20 Mateo Kovačić Sub on.svg 58'
FW16 Ante Rebić Red card.svg 89'Sub on.svg 69'
FW9 Nikica Jelavić Sub on.svg 74'
Manager:
Niko Kovač
CRO-MEX 2014-06-23.svg
GK13 Guillermo Ochoa
CB2 Francisco Rodríguez
CB4 Rafael Márquez (c)Yellow card.svg 39'
CB15 Héctor Moreno
RWB22 Paul Aguilar
LWB7 Miguel Layún
DM23 José Juan Vázquez Yellow card.svg 66'
CM6 Héctor Herrera
CM18 Andrés Guardado Sub off.svg 84'
SS10 Giovani dos Santos Sub off.svg 62'
CF19 Oribe Peralta Sub off.svg 79'
Substitutions:
FW14 Javier Hernández Sub on.svg 62'
MF21 Carlos Peña Sub on.svg 79'
MF8 Marco Fabián Sub on.svg 84'
Manager:
Miguel Herrera

Man of the Match:
Rafael Márquez (Mexico) Assistant referees:
Abdukhamidullo Rasulov (Uzbekistan)
Bakhadyr Kochkarov (Kyrgyzstan)
Fourth official:
Néant Alioum (Cameroon)
Fifth official:
Djibril Camara (Senegal)

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References

  1. ↑ "Kovač replaces Štimac as Croatia coach". UEFA. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  2. ↑ "FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) 2014, football - table and standings". soccer365.me. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Reuters Staff (May 23, 2014). "Croatia's Strinic out of World Cup with hamstring injury". Archived from the original on June 21, 2020 – via uk.reuters.com.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ↑ Šimunić was banned from playing in 10 official matches by FIFA because of a Nazi salute after the Croatia - Iceland match on 19 November 2013
  5. ↑ "Kranjcar ruled out of World Cup" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Na zadovoljstvo izbornika: HNS potvrdio Tivoli Ecoresort za kamp reprezentacije" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. December 18, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Kovač objavio putnike za Brazil: Otpali Čop, Bubnjić, Pašalić i Badelj! Močinić ide na SP! - SP 2014". Index.hr. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "BADELJ RECEIVES LAST-MINUTE CROATIA CALL-UP". Bundeliga. 11 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Rakitić joined FC Barcelona after the tournament. "Agreement for Ivan Rakitic to join FC Barcelona". FC Barcelona. FC Barcelona. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Zelenika was on loan at Lokomotiva from Dinamo Zagreb.
  11. ↑ Schildenfeld was on loan at Panathanaikos from Dynamo Moscow.
  12. ↑ Mandžukić joined Atlético Madrid following the tournament. "Mandzukic is now an Atlético". clubatleticodemadrid.com. Atlético de Madrid. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29.
  14. ↑ "Match suspensions to be served at the final competition of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA.com. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on April 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Neymar fires Brazil to comeback victory". FIFA. Archived from the original on June 14, 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 "Brazil 3 Croatia 1". BBC Sport. 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Glendenning, Barry (12 June 2014). "Brazil 3-1 Croatia: World Cup 2014 – as it happened". The Guardian . Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Kane, Desmond (12 June 2014). "Forget Neymar, Brazil's new national hero is Yuichi Nishimura". Eurosport . Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  19. ↑ "Brazil 3 - 1 Croatia Match report - Goal.com". Goal.com. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "Brazil 3 Croatia 1: Fifa defend under-fire referee Yuichi Nishimura as Japanese official caught up in diving row during opening World Cup match". The Independent. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  21. ↑ Haji Talib, Hassan; Chotpibulsap, Pitisak (13 June 2014). "Former FIFA referee: Refereeing for World Cup opener was "embarrassing"". Goal.com. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Marcelo's own goal, vanishing spray and goaline technology - the World Cup firsts at Brazil 2014". Der Standard. 12 June 2014.
  23. ↑ "Brazil 3-1 Croatia – Man of the Match". FIFA.com (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). 12 June 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  24. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29.
  25. ↑ Khan, Mehreen (19 June 2014). "Cameroon v Croatia, World Cup 2014: as it happened". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Cameroon 0 Croatia 4". BBC Sport. 18 June 2014.
  27. ↑ Peck, Brooks (18 June 2014). "Alex Song elbows Mario Mandzukic in the back for some reason, gets sent off". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Khan, Mehreen (19 June 2014). "Assou-Ekotto head-butt stuns Finke". ESPN . Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  29. ↑ "Finke: Card no reason to see red". FIFA.com . 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  30. ↑ "World Cup: Cameroon coach slams 'disgusting' player behavior in loss". The Guardian. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  31. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Cameroon investigates match-fixing claims". BBC Sport. 1 July 2014.
  32. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Match-fixer denies predicting Cameroon result". BBC Sport. 1 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Fifa says no proof of Cameroon match-fixing". BBC Sport. 2 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "Olic: Twelve years and still going strong". FIFA.com. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Eagles down, but not out -Ameobi". The Sun. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
  36. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup – Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA.com. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29.
  37. ↑ "Mexico qualify from Group A with three late goals against Croatia". Guardian. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  38. ↑ "Croatia 1 Mexico 3". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  39. ↑ "Why Rafael Marquez Will Be Key for Mexico in the Clash Against Netherlands". Bleacher Report. 23 June 2014.
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