Cameroon and Croatia in bid for FIFA World Cup rescue tonight

Manaus Cameroon and Croatia clash in Manaus on Wednesday looking to put their troubles behind them and keep alive their hopes of making the World Cup knockout roundsCameroons German coach Volker Finke C speak to his players during an official training session at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus PicAFPHaving both lost their opening match a victory would be fundamental in staying alive in a tough Group A including hosts Brazil and MexicoBut a win would also allow each side to forget offfield troubles that have threatened to disrupt their preparationIn the case of the Africans it is the near certain absence of talismanic striker Samuel Etoo due to a knee injuryI am hoping the gods grant me a miracle and that I am able to defend my dear beautiful country Etoo told Cameroon RadioTelevision CRTVIf this is not the case I will always play my role as captain and especially as the big brother to push my young teammates to victoryEtoos knee problem stems from the end of his club season with ChelseaHe says he hasnt been 100 percent for months and right from the start of the opening 10 loss to Mexico last Friday he was in painDuring the first match of the World Cup against Mexico I tried but after consulting the medical staff we realised that I needed a rest Even in the ninth minute I felt pain said the 33yearoldCroatias problems are somewhat different as they lick their wounds and try to digest the bitter pill of their 31 loss to Brazil last ThursdayTwo key incidents changed the game as Brazil were awarded a highly contentious penalty to go 21 ahead before the Europeans controversially had a goal disallowed that would have levelled the scoresBut worse was to follow at the weekend as players were upset by some overly revealing coverage of their Brazilian campaignA Croatian website published photos of naked players frolicking in a swimming pool at their team base in Praia do ForteVeteran striker Ivica Olic 34 accused the countrys media of sabotaging their preparationsYou can write freely that its really shameful slammed Olic in the Sportske Novosti dailyWe came here to represent Croatia give our best we are preparing ourselves for a difficult match against Cameroon and then such things happenIs it normal Do people really need to watch us without our underpants do our families have to blush Did media representatives come here for football or something elseOlic wasnt one of those exposed on the pictures defenders Vedran Corluka and Dejan Lovren were wearing nothing but their birthday suits while playmaker Luka Modric had his trunks on in the photosThe publication had caused outrage amongst the players who decided to boycott the media until Olic opted to speak to Sportske NovostiThe photos originally published online were reprinted by many Monday newspapers and were especially well received by women on social networksBut they havent helped the mood of players who were already aggrieved by what their coach Nico Kovac described as the ridiculous penalty award in their opening matchKovac said the tournament would turn into a circus if referees continue to make such decisionsSo the referee on Wednesday will likely come under stern scrutiny particularly since the gaffes have continued from the men in the middleCameroon actually benefitted from two seemingly valid Mexico goals being chalked off for what appeared nonexistant offsidesWhatever the outcome on Wednesday both sides will be hoping that headlines are made for the right reasons