Niko Kovac says his Croatia side is facing their own World Cup 'final' against Mexico on Monday with only a win guaranteeing them a place in the last 16.
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 knock-out 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 faces an uphill task against Miguel Herrera's side in Recife in the wake of Mexico's confidence-boosting draw with Brazil.
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa wrote himself into World Cup folklore with a string of top-class saves including one from point-blank range to deny Brazil's Neymar in Fortaleza last Tuesday.
A draw against Croatia would be enough to put Mexico through after their goalless draw with Brazil and 1-0 win over Cameroon. "The match against Mexico will be like a final," Kovac told Croatian broadcaster HTV.
"Mexico are strong, but so are we.
"The Mexico players are very patriotic, just like us, and they have a great team spirit.
"They play some aggressive football with a lot of pressing. They are strong going forward, but also have some weaknesses in defence, like Brazil showed us."
Mexico have four points — one more than Croatia — as their draw with Brazil came after their 1-0 win over Cameroon thanks to Oribe Peralta's second-half winner.
But the Mexicans are bidding to finish the group as winners and want to beat the Croatians to pile the pressure on Group A leaders Brazil.
"We're in the group and battling it out for a place (in the next round) even with Brazil," said Herrera.
"We've still got another group game to play and, like always, we'll be going all out for the win.
"I told the lads that they did an excellent job (against Brazil), but we've still got to give everything to try and qualify."
Croatians like Kovac's coaching blend
Salvador: Croatia coach Niko Kovac is trying to combine some traits he learned in Germany with the Balkan flair and unpredictability in his World Cup game plan, and so far his players like it.
The ex-Croatia midfielder was born and raised in Germany, spending years playing in the Bundesliga for Hertha Berlin, Bayer leverkusen, Hamburger SV and Bayern Munich. He's pushing professionalism and a winning mentality in his Croatia squad.
"Kovac played in Germany for so long and that's why he has that German mentality,"Croatia forward Ivan Perisic said Saturday. "It is important for us because that is exactly what we sometimes need."
Kovac, 42, played 83 times and scored 14 goals for Croatia. Some players he now coaches, including Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic, were his teammates before he quit playing in 2009.
The Croatians lost 3-1 to Brazil in the World Cup opener, but the game turned in the second half when referee Yuichi Nishimura awarded a contentious penalty to the hosts when the score was 1-1. Croatia rebounded by trouncing Cameroon 4-0 in a stylish display of speed, technical skill and German-style efficiency.
"When we combine our passionate approach with the ability to keep our cool, we're a good team," Kovac said.
Perisic said the coach's sometimes autocratic approach actually helps the players.
"He is sometimes angry at us and he shouts," said Perisic, who scored a goal and helped set up another against Cameroon. "That is all part of the game, and every coach should be like that."
Croatia faces a crucial match against Mexico on Monday, needing to win to advance from Group A. A draw would be enough for Mexico, which held Brazil to a 0-0 draw after opening with a 1-0 win over Cameroon.
"It will be difficult," Perisic said. "They are playing great football, they have good defense, but if we play like against Cameroon, we have a good chance to beat them."
Kovac said Croatia needs to be patient to secure the win.
"We have to be ready from start to finish," Kovac said. "We don't need to win the game in the first five minutes."