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GOAL! doubles the lead for from the penalty spot! Rebic should have doubled Croatia's lead, firing over from Perisic's perfect left-wing centre, with Odion Ighalo's tame header recording the match's first shot on target in the 59th minute. Perisic and Mandzukic both got a touch on a right-wing Modric corner but the crucial contact came at the back post from Etebo, who could only divert the ball past teenage goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.Īlex Iwobi was proving a lively presence in attack for Nigeria but after wriggling into space on the left side of the box, he hit a shot directly into a Croatia defender. More solid hold-up play from Mandzukic fed Ante Rebic, whose effort deflected wide, with Croatia scoring the opening goal from the resulting set-piece in the 32nd minute. YOMT22UY8OĪfter a cagey opening, Perisic fired Croatia's first shot in the 13th minute, narrowly clearing the crossbar after Mandzukic's strength created the opportunity to shoot. Gernot Rohr's men were unable to create a clear opportunity of their own and sit bottom of Group D following the first round of fixtures, Argentina and Iceland having drawn in Moscow earlier on Friday after Lionel Messi missed a penalty.Ģ - Luka Modrić is the second player to score a penalty for #CRO in the World Cup, after Davor Šuker vs Romania in 1998, both as Real Madrid players. Nigeria's previous goal conceded at the World Cup in 2014 was also an own goal, defender Joseph Yobo the unfortunate player to put through his own net in a last-16 defeat to France.Īnd when William Troost-Ekong needlessly dragged Mandzukic down in the box, captain Modric coolly converted the 71st-minute penalty to give Croatia a winning start on their fifth appearance at the finals.Ĭroatia had the better of a close contest light on chances in Kaliningrad, with Mandzukic's aerial power causing plenty of problems for Nigeria, who have the youngest squad at the World Cup. Midfielder Etebo, who joined Stoke City for €7.2million on Monday, turned a Modric corner into his own net after Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic both flicked the delivery on. John Mikel Obi, who now plays in China, is probably Nigeria’s best player and their hopes of making it out of the group rest largely on his shoulders.Croatia claimed pole position in Group D with a hard-fought 2-0 win against Nigeria thanks to an own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo and a Luka Modric penalty. Nigeria will be ready for Croatia.” LAWRO’S PREDICTIONĬroatia play on the front foot but they are solid as well as skilful and I think they will be too strong for Nigeria.
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Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr: “I love this group because we know how to rise to the occasion together. It’s important that we play well and create opportunities for our attackers.”
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We certainly have very high-quality offensive players and we shouldn’t be afraid. Real Madrid playmaker Modric, Barcelona midfielder Rakitic and Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic remain, key players, while Nigeria has former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi as captain, with Premier League pair Victor Moses and Alex Iwobi also in their squad.Ĭroatia striker Nikola Kalinic: “The most important thing now is those three points. The Super Eagles reached the last 16 in 1994, 19, although their group win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2014 was their first victory since France 98.Ĭroatia finished third that year when they made their debut as an independent country, but they have failed to reach the knockout stage since, making group exits in 2002, 20.