Thursday, June 19, 2014

World Cup 2014: Cameroon joins defending champions into exit

Out of 'madness', Alex Song bow out of the game after seeing red, as Cameroon was sent packing. They are the first African side to be knocked out of the finals (Photo Credit: BBC).
Cameroon has joined the defending world champions, Spain, into the exit door of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Wednesday.

The Indomitable Lions were outplayed and dominated by a Croatian side that put four goals into the net of the Central African side.

They were reduced to 10-men at the Arena Amazonia in Manaus after midfielder Alexandra Song saw red for knocking down a Croatian player in the Group A fixture.

Croatia celebrates win over cameroon after losing opener to Brazil (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
It took Croatia just 11 minutes for Ivica Olic to open the score sheet, and Ivan Perisic headed home the second in the 36th minute of the first half.

Then some 'madness' creeps in, Alex Song of all people got himself sent off by a straight red card after deliberately knocking down Mario Mandzukic when the pair were off-the-ball.

But the worst was yet to come. As Mario Mandzukic grab a brace in the 61st and 73rd minutes to make it four-up for Croatia (see video).

Attempted head-butt scene clearly shows the peak of frustration and humiliation of Cameroon (Photo taken from World Soccer Talk)

Cameroon were already down and out, and in deep frustration, defender Assou-Ekotto attempted to head-butt team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in an argument.

They had to be separated by team-mates before it could get any uglier for a team that has been caught in the glare of media publicity for row over match bonuses.

On Tuesday, Mexico held host nation Brazil to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza in their second group A game.

Cameroon lost 1-0 to Mexico in opener, and will take on Brazil in their third and final game at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia on June 23, while Croatia play Mexico at the same time at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife.

Meanwhile in today's other games, Chile beat Spain 2-0 while Netherlands defeat Australia 3-2 in group B. 
 
Written by Modou S. Joof



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