Winning start for Croatians

IN A stadium built on a swamp, Croatia laid down foundations for their World Cup campaign.

It is too early to say if their golden generation will deliver anything worthwhile in what might be their last hurrah, but this was a good win.

The damage was done with a first-half own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo and a penalty by Luka Modric midway through the second.

The rest of the match was largely forgettable, particularly from a Nigerian perspective, which is strange as they arrived with a moderately enterprising squad and none of the usual baggage of bonus rows to distract them. They were awful.

Croatia were less than brilliant themselves, certainly not the full sum of their excellent parts, but they created far more, albeit with shots from distance rather than any great piece of craftsmanship. Indeed, they managed to finish the first half in front despite failing to get a single shot on goal.

Modric was the architect of the move that saw Croatia go in front, with a corner that Ante Rebic flicked towards the far post and Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic nudged on again with a diving header. The ball was heading off target until it struck the leg of Etebo and diverted in for an own goal.

Nigeria went further behind when they conceded a 71stminute penalty as William Troost-Ekong wrestled Mandzukic to the ground — a clumsy challenge that summed up his team. Modric buried the kick and Nigeria.