A robust Croatia aspect kicked off their World Cup marketing campaign with a 2-0 victory over Nigeria in Group D.
A second-half penalty from Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić sealed the victory, constructing on an personal aim from new Stoke City signing Oghenekaro Etebo in a recreation that had little to supply however the two targets that had been scored.
Zero – Neither aspect tried a single shot heading in the right direction in the first half of this match. The final recreation to not have a shot heading in the right direction earlier than half-time at the World Cup additionally concerned Croatia (vs Mexico in June 2014). Snooze.#CRONGA #NGA #CRO #WorldCup
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 16, 2018
The recreation acquired off to a frantic begin, nonetheless there was no rhythm to the recreation as each side struggled to settle into the match - making for a relatively tedious spectacle for lengthy durations.
Croatia had the first likelihood of the recreation on 14 minutes, when Mario Mandžukić laid the ball of for Ivan Perišić, who fired over the bar from simply outdoors the fringe of the field. Former Leicester striker Andrej Kramarić fired vast minutes later, with neither staff capable of create a clear likelihood.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Croatia took the lead with a piece of fortune, as Mandžukić's header was deflected inside the submit by Etebo - who just lately signed for Stoke City - to place the Croatians 1-Zero to the good.
Everybody watching would have been relieved to listen to the half time whistle, bringing to a shut a disappointing half that noticed no pictures heading in the right direction being registered by both aspect.
The begin of the second half was very a lot the identical, with Victor Moses' dragged shot after 49 minutes summarising the poor, torpid efforts from the African aspect.
For a recreation that had such promise forward of kick off, it did not ship - however Croatia confirmed their moments of promise in the ultimate third.
After Ivan Rakitić performed a implausible ball out to Perišić on the left, the latter's cross sat up on a plate for Ante Rebić. The 24-year-old tried a first-time cushioned volley, solely to see his effort fly over the crossbar.
Striker Odion Ighalo got here closest for Nigeria, however he couldn't generate sufficient energy on his header to hassle Danijel Subašić in the Croatia aim.
With 20 minutes left to play, a rush of blood to the head of William Ekong noticed the Nigerian defender wraps his arm round Mandžukić's neck in mid-air, leaving the referee with no selection however to right away level to the spot.
Up stepped Modrić, who punched the ball into the bottom-left nook with the aspect of his boot to increase the Croatians' lead in Kaliningrad, from the place they by no means appeared again, cruising to a snug victory