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The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Saturday, June 16 evening with Croatia beating Nigeria in their Group D opening match at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
The match got of to a slow start but then Croatia had more of the bal and action. They went ahead in the 33rd minute following a corner, Rebic head on, Mandzukic further heads on and an unfortunate touch from Etebo send the ball into his teams own net. At the break Croatia were leading 1-0.
After the break, Croatia continued to control proceedings and got a penalty in the 70th minute when Troost-Ekong held Mandzukic and Luca Modric stepped up to score of the resultant spot kick. In the end Croatia won 2-0.
FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Group D
Croatia 2-0 (1-0) Nigeria
Goals: 1-0 Oghenekaro Etebo (33′ own goal), 2-0 Luca Modric (71′ pen)
Croatia: Subasic – Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic – Modric, Rakitic – Perisic, Kramaric (60′ Brozovic), Rebic (78′ Kovacic) – Mandzukic (86′ Pjaca)
Subs: L. Kalinic, Livakovic, Caleta-Car, Corluka, Jedvaj, Pivaric, Badelj, Bradaric, N. Kalinic
Nigeria: Uzoho – Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Idowu – Ndidi, Etebo – Moses, Mikel (88′ Simy), Iwobi (62′ Musa) – Ighalo (73′ Iheanacho)
Subs: Akpeyi, Ezenwa, Chidozie, Ebuehi, Echiejile, Omeruo, Obi, Ogu, Onazi
Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil)
Man of the Match: Luca Modric (Croatia)
