By RYAN TOLMICH

Maio Mandzukic may have missed the first act of Croatia’s World Cup adventure, but he more than made up for it in their second.

The 28-year-old bagged a brace in Croatia’s 4-0 destruction of Cameroon in what was his first World Cup game after returning from suspension. The Bayern Munich star was a key part of the constant waves of attacks the overwhelmed the 10-man Indomitable Lions.

Mandzukic scored the first of his World Cup goals in the 61st minute, when he smashed home a header off of a Danijel Pranjic cross to give the Croatians a 3-0 lead. His second proved to be much simpler, as Mandzukic calmly slotted home a rebound into a wide-open net following an Eduardo shot.

Mandzukic also played a role in the game’s pivotal moment, though it was through little control of his own, as it was Alex Song’s strike to the back of the Croatia star that saw Cameroon reduced to 10 men.

Mandzukic’s goalscoring performance was enough to earn him SBI World Cup Man of the Match, as he narrowly beat out teammate Ivan Perisic for today’s honors.

What did you think of Mandzukic’s performance? Who stood out to you in Croatia’s 4-0 thrashing of Cameroon?

Share your thoughts below.