An Oghenekaro Etebo own goal and a second-half Luka Modric penalty was enough for Croatia to go top of Group D in Kaliningrad
Croatia’s second goal came on another corner kick, one of their six in the match. Nigeria was able to clear the corner away, but only because defender William Troost-Ekong wrapped his arms around Mandzukic, preventing him from attacking the ball. Troost-Ekong was given a yellow card, and Modric whipped the ball into the lower corner of the goal.
Despite a young, speedy and guile-filled team, Nigeria continued to look ponderous on the ball, and never seriously threatened to claw a goal back.
Croatia’s golden generation is taking advantage of what is likely their last chance to advance deeply into a tournament, while Nigeria, the youngest team at the World Cup, look like they might be four years away.
92’: Croatia Misses Chance, But It Won’t Matter
Mateo Kovacic carried the ball into the Nigerian penalty box looking to end the day with a goal, but 19-year-old Nigerian keeper Francis Uzoho was equal to the task and made a sliding save.
After one last impotent Nigerian attack, the ref blows the whistle.
86’: Mandzukic’s Day Is Over
As he goes off for Marko Pjaca. Mandzukic’s name won’t show up on the score sheet, but it was his diving header that caused the own goal, and he won the penalty that Luka Modric converted for Croatia’s second.
78’: Croatia in Control
Croatia is content to pass the ball around and make Nigeria chase the game.
Nigeria has brought the 6’2” Kelechi Iheanacho on as they scramble to come back.
71’: GOAL! Croatia Up 2-0
Croatia doubles its lead as Luka Modric slots the ball into the corner from the penalty spot.
The penalty was called by Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci on a Croatian corner kick. As the ball swung on, Nigerian defender William Troost-Ekong wrapped his arms around Mario Mandzukic, and practically tackled him to the ground. Troost-Ekong picked up a yellow card for his trouble!
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62’: Substitutions
With the match two-thirds over, both teams have made their first substitutions. Croatia brings Marcelo Brozovic, a box-to-box midfielder, on for Andrej Kramaric, who has been operating as a second striker today. This should push Luka Modric farther forward.
For Nigeria, Ahmed Musa, a speedy and tricky attacking player, replaces striker Alex Iwobi.
59’: A Shot On Goal!
Odion Ighalo gets his head on a cross, but it bounces harmlessly into Danijel Subasic’s arms.
55’: Still No Shots On Goal
But they’ve got to be coming. Both teams are finding it easy to bypass the midfield and attack their opponent’s goal, but the crosses and through balls are being cleared.
48’: Nigeria Comes Out Strong
The second half begins, and immediately Nigeria has the ball in Croatia’s half. But can they score a goal?
Nigeria wins three straight corners, all launched into the box by Victor Moses, but are unable to do anything with them.
Halftime
Croatia’s numerous crosses, layoffs and headers finally led to a 32nd minute goal. Nigeria will need to figure out something different in the final third if they want to get back into this match.
45’: Nigeria Chance Denied
Nigeria finally sustains some possession and methodically works the ball forward, before Victor Moses is fouled in the final third. The resulting cross pops out to Alex Iwobi on the edge of the box, but his powerful shot is blocked.
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38’: Croatia Keeps Pressure On
Croatia has dominated possession since scoring the first goal, and came close to a second. Ivan Rakitic directed a cross to Andrej Kramaric, but Kramaric’s penalty spot header loops just over.
32’ GOAL! Croatia Up, 1-0
Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic’s puts a diving header off Oghenekaro Etebo and into the back of the net, with it being ruled an own goal. Luka Modric swung a corner kick in, before it was headed into the vicinity of Mandzukic.
31’: First Yellow Card
Victor Moses has reinvented his career the last couple of years as a wingback for Chelsea. While he hasn’t quite put it together yet today, it’s fun watching the Nigerian play higher up on the pitch.
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Ivan Rakitic picks up the first yellow card on the day after stepping on Moses’s ankle.
20’: No Shots, But Plenty of Action
The match remains 0-0 with no shots on goal, but not for a lack of trying. Both teams are attacking the goal — Croatia through their midfield, Nigeria a bit more direct down the wings — but haven’t been able to find the final ball.
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14’: Chance!
Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic lays the ball off for Ivan Perisic to take a shot from the top of the box, but it flies harmlessly over.
7’: Even Play So Far
Croatia has looked more comfortable on the ball early, but Nigeria has won two free kicks in Croatia’s half. No dangerous chances yet.
1’: And We’re Off!
Croatia is wearing its traditional red and white checkerboard pattern, while Nigeria is in solid dark green. I guess we’ll have to wait to see their incredible electric green jerseys.
Match Lineups
Croatia
23 Danijel Subasic
21 Domagoj Vida
6 Dejan Lovren
3 Ivan Strinic
2 Sime Vrsaljko
9 Andrej Kramaric
10 Luka Modric
7 Ivan Rakitic
17 Mario Mandzukic
4 Ivan Perisic
18 Ante Rebic
Nigeria
23 Francis Uzoho
6 Leon Balogun
5 William Troost-Ekong
2 Bryan Idowu
12 Abdullahi Shehu
10 John Obi Mikel
8 Oghenekaro Etebo
4 Wilfred Ndidi
9 Odion Ighalo
18 Alex Iwobi
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11 Victor Moses
Nigeria vs. Croatia Top Story Lines
• This is Croatia’s most talented side since their 1998 team advanced to the World Cup semifinals, led by Golden Boot winner Davor Suker. They won their group at Euro 2016, but were defeated 1-0 in the round of 16 by eventual winner Portugal, on a heartbreaking 117th minute goal.
• If Nigeria can advance to the round of 16, they will be looking to win their first-ever World Cup knockout round match.
• Premier League fans are familiar with Mikel John Obi, who was a defensive stalwart in Chelsea’s midfield for a decade. For Nigeria, however, he plays a much more attacking role, usually as the farthest forward midfielder.
• Croatia’s strength is in the midfield, where they have three players — Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic — who play for La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
• Nigeria is managed by the German Gernot Rohr, who has made a second career out of leading African national teams, but his previous stops in Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso weren’t particularly successful.
Some Pregame Reading
• Croatia and Nigeria have two of the more unique kits this World Cup.
• Catch up on the other Group D match, this morning’s 1-1 draw between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow
• Against the back drop of the World Cup, Zdravko Mamic, a longtime executive at Croatian powerhouse club Dinamo Zagreb, was sentenced to six-and-a-half-years in jail last week, related to transfer irregularities including the transfers of Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren, who will start today.
Nigeria have qualified for five of the last six World Cups, so they are no stranger to competition. However, going against Croatia with players who are playing their first ever World Cup might be tricky.
Despite Croatia squeezing through the playoffs, head coach Zlatko Dalic has some impressive players on his roster, including Real Madrid's Luca Modric.
But Nigeria's 4-0 victory over Cameroon gave them the boost they needed, and with that spirit and a squad counting Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho, the Super Eagles could surprise us all.
Follow all the live action below…
Live Updates
Read more...
Good evening and welcome to Kaliningrad for The Independent’s live coverage of the Group D encounter between Croatia and Nigeria. Here's how we analysed Croatia's chances prior to the tournament kicking-off. Croatia World Cup squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more And here's what we made of the Nigeria squad. Nigeria World Cup squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more Croatia v Nigeria The supporters of both countries are taking their seats inside the stadium... Let's have a closer look at the how the two countries line up at the Kaliningrad Stadium... Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Modric, Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic, Mandzukic
Subs: Livakovic, L. Kalinic, Corluka, Kovacic, Brozovic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, N. Kalinic, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric
Nigeria: Francis, Shehu, Ekong, Balogun, Idowu, Ndidi, Etebo, Moses, Mikel, Iwobi, Ighalo
Subs: Ezenwa, Akpeyi, Echiejile, Musa, Nwankwo, Iheanacho, Obi, Onazi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Omeruo
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil) Real Madrid's Luka Modric is the heartbeat of the Croatia midfield. I hope you made good use of the hour's break. It's almost time for the World Cup's fourth match of the day. Here come the players... Please stand for the national anthems. To be honest, neither are great although they both sound perfectly acceptable when following the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, which is played for the 227th time this week. If Nigeria's World Cup kit was the most in demand ahead of this tournament, then the footballing hipsters should check out the tracksuit tops the team is using during the warm-ups. Sheer class. KICK-OFF: Here we go! Nigeria, in their changed kit of dark green (boo!), get the game underway and win a dangerous free-kick within 14 seconds after Dejan Lovren plunders his way into the back of Odion Ighalo. It's good to know he's capable of such miscalculations at international level too. Still, his Croatia teammates admirably deal with the delivery. 4 mins: Early Croatia pressure has Nigeria living on the edge, relying on some last-ditch defending to divert away a quickly-taken free-kick and a left wing cross from Ivan Perisic. 8 mins: Croatia win the first corner of the game. Luka Modric strolls over to take it which gives commentator Jon Champion plenty of time to talk about the perjury charges awaiting the midfielder back home. Keep it light hearted, Jon. 11 mins: Oghenekaro Etebo summons the ghost of Finidi George by expertly taking control of a dropping ball before tricking his way past his marker. The midfielder's run is only halted by Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci, who blows up for a tug on Etebo's shirt by an opponent. What's the Brazilian for 'play the advantage!'? 14 mins: Ivan Perisic strikes the game's first shot in anger over the top of Francis Uzoho's goal. I'd say the anguished look on his face tells the story of how close it was but I've bought enough Panini stickers over the years to know he always looks like that. 16 mins: The atmosphere inside the Kaliningrad Stadium has nothing on that served up by the Peruvians earlier this evening. Although the 60,000 fans that had travelled from South America to Russia did not have Ally McCoist's co-commentary to drown out. 22 mins: Better from Nigeria at the halfway point of this first half. Bright play by Ighalo wins a corner from which they test the Croatian defence with some testing crosses into the six-yard box. Eventually, the ball drops to the new Stoke signing, Etebo, who miscues his volley wide. 25 mins: The game is really flat. If that's bad enough, the lull in play has meant that Jon Champion and Ally McCoist have begun to engage in awkward small talk reminiscent of a first (and last) Tinder date. 28 mins: McCoist tells an anecdote about how Rangers once looked at the possibility of signing Modric from Dinamo Zagreb but the club couldn't afford it. It's very tempting to point out that never stopped them before, but I won't. YELLOW CARD 30 mins: The first yellow card of the game is shown to Ivan Rakitic for a really nasty tackle on Victor Moses. The Barcelona midfielder caught the winger on the ankle with a studs up challenge, and you've seen more severe punishments handed out for such challenges - especially at World Cups. GOAL! 32 mins: GOAL! CROATIA 1 NIGERIA 0: Croatia open the scoring in the most fortuitous circumstances. Luka Modric's corner, this time from the right, was met by the diving head of Mario Mandzukic. The Juventus striker did well to meet the cross but his effort was off target, travelling two foot wide of Francis Uzoho's far post before the flicking off the ankle of Oghenekaro Etebo and nestling in the bottom corner for an own-goal. Next
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What time is kick-off?
Croatia vs Nigeria kicks off at 8pm BST.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be shown on ITV.
Odds
Croatia: 13/10
Nigeria: 61/20
Draw: 41/20
Prediction
Croatia 1-1 Nigeria. Both teams have brilliant attacking players so the game is bound to be a cracker.
But who do you think will win? Let us know by voting above.
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Luka Modric’s second half penalty sealed the deal for Croatia. (Source: Reuters) Luka Modric’s second half penalty sealed the deal for Croatia. (Source: Reuters)
It was a comfortable win at the end of a cagey match for Croatia. An own goal by Etebo in the first half and a Luka Modric penalty in the second helped them secure the 2-0 win and they now go top of the Group D being the only team to have managed to secure a win. Chances were at a premium, which was something of a contrast to the other matches we have seen so far in the World Cup, so much so that neither teams had managed to get a shot on target in the entire first half.
