An Oghenekaro Etebo own goal and a second-half Luka Modric penalty was enough for Croatia to go top of Group D in Kaliningrad
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
Please allow a moment for the blog to load…
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.
Follow the Independent Sport on Instagram here, for all of the best images, videos and stories from around the sporting world.
Oghenekaro Etebo's own goal and Luka Modric goal from the spot gave Croatia a winning start in their World Cup campaign. Croatia also took the top spot in Group D at the points table, after the first game of the group between Argentina and Iceland ended in a 1-1 draw.Kovacic missed a golden opportunity to score. Shot it straight to Nigerian goalkeeper from close range and one-on-one situationFour minutes added as stoppage timeBooking for Croatia's Marcelo BrozovicJohn Obi Mikel is replaced by NwankwoScramble in front of Croatian goal, but Victor Moses' attempt was blockedMario Mandzukic is replaced by Marco Pjaca for CroatiaHeader from Leon Balogun was comfortably collected by Croatian goalkeeperLuka Modric free-kick was calmly collected by Nigerian goalkeeperCroatia making their own change. Ante Rebic is replaced by KovacicOdion Ighalo is replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho for NigeriaLuka Modric converted the penalty to make it 2-0 for CroatiaPENALTY for Croatia. And yellow card for NIgeria's William Ekong for foul against Mario Mandzukic. Luka Modric taking the spot-kick.Victor Moses went down inside the Croatian box, but ref is not interested in giving the decision in the Nigerian's favourAhmed Musa came in place of Alex Iwobi for NigeriaAndrej Kramaric is replaced by Brozovic for CroatiaOdion Ighalo's header was straight to the Croatian goalkeeper Danijel SubasicAnte Rebic missed the goal from six yards out. Ivan Perisic crossed it perfectly for Rebic, but the midfielder volleyed it over the crossbar.Fourth corner for Nigeria in the second half. But Victor Moses' delivery was long. No danger for CroatiaIwobi's strike was blocked by Croatian defender before the European team won the goal kickLong ranger from Ivan Rakitic was well above the Nigerian crossbarVictor Moses hit it wide from close rangeThree corners in a row for Nigeria. This time Croatia cleared the ball from the box convincinglyCorner for Nigeria early in the second half.Time for second half action. Will Nigeria score the equaliser or Croatia double the lead?Unlucky Oghenekaro Etebo's own goal was the difference between the two sides in the first 45 minutes of the contest. Croatia have controlled the proceedings, but the clear chance on goal were very limited.Two minutes added as stoppage timeVictor Moses is fouled on the right flank and it's a free-kick for Nigeria. Dejan Lovren with a timely block to deny Alex Iwobi the equaliserSime Vrsaljko mistimed it, from the top right of the box, and the ball went wide of the Nigerian goalAndrej Kramaric's header went over the Nigerian crossbar. Good cross from Ivan Rakitic from the left side of the boxLuka Modric is everywhere in the field for Croatia. He was delivering the ball from the corner, and now he is clearing the ball from the box for Croatia.Croatia took the lead, through Oghenekaro Etebo's own goalMario Mandzukic’s header from Luka Modric's corner-kick was deflected in by unlucky Etebo.First booking of the match went to Ivan Rakitic of Croatia, for his challenge against Victor MosesAnte Rebic's cross in the box from the right was cleared by Nigerian defenderFirst corner for Nigeria. It was a minor scramble in front of the Croatian goal, but Nigerian players failed to find a clear shot on goal. And Oghenekaro Etebo's final touch was wide of the postLuka Modric's free-kick was calmly collected by young teenage Nigerian goalkeeper Francis UzohoAnother corner for Croatia. Luka Modric's kick was weak and low, and Nigerian defender easily cleared it out of the boxThis time Andrej Kramaric's shot was wide of the Nigerian goal. Croatia started to create decent chances as the game progressesIvan Perisic's strike, from the top of the box, went just over the Nigerian crossbarAttack from the left for Nigeria. Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic collected the ball comfortably.Corner kick for Croatia. A short corner but failed to create a clear chance on goalPromising run for Croatia from the left flank, but it was comfortably kick out by Nigerian defenderEarly free-kick for Nigeria from outside the Croatia box. No danger though for goalkeeper Danijel SubasicHere we go...Time for National AnthemsPlayers are coming out from the tunnel with less than five minutes left to the kick-off timeNigeria coach Gernot Rohr has handed a World Cup debut to 19-year-old goalkeeper Francis Uzoho for his team's World Cup opener. Croatia's midfield is powered by Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic. Coach Zlatko Dalic has left Modric's Madrid teammate Mateo Kovacic on the bench.Danijel Subasic - Sime Vrsaljko, Dejan Lovren, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Strinic - Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric (capt), Ivan Perisic, Ante Rebic, Andrej Kramaric - Mario MandzukicCoach: Zlatko Dalic (CRO)Francis Uzoho - Shehu Abdullahi, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Brian Idowu - Oghenekaro Etebo, John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi - Odion IghaloCoach: Gernot Rohr (GER)Referee: Sandro Ricci (BRA)Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Group D match between Croatia and Nigeria. The contest starts at 00:30 IST
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.
