Modric powers Croatia to 2-0 win over Nigeria
Even in a more defensive role, Luka Modric can still lead the attack.
The Croatia midfielder scored one goal and set up the other in his team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday at the World Cup in Kaliningrad, Russia.
Modric sent in a corner that was headed by two teammates and then deflected into the net by Nigeria midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo in the 32nd minute.
“We scored at the perfect moment. After that it was easier for us to play our game,” Modric said. “After the first goal we started creating chances.”
Modric later converted a penalty in the 71st after William Ekong held on to Mario Mandzukic. It was the fifth penalty awarded in four World Cup matches on Saturday.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr said he felt his team also deserved a penalty.
“There were also so many fouls in the other box, they could have also given a penalty for us,” Rohr said.
Croatia, with Modric and Ivan Rakitic controlling the midfield, dominated most of the match and rarely allowed Nigeria to get close to goal.
It took nearly an hour for the Nigerians to have an effort on target — a header by Odion Ighalo straight at goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.
Croatia now leads Group D with three points and next plays Argentina on Thursday in Nizhny Novgorod. FRANCE 2, AUSTRALIA 1 >> Technology twice helped France as the 1998 champions labored to beat a gritty Australia in Group C in Kazan, Russia.
The French team was given a controversial penalty kick, eventually converted by Antoine Griezmann in the 58th minute, after the referee watched the replay of a foul on the sideline.
Paul Pogba later scored the winning goal in the 81st minute, and goal-line technology was used to confirm the ball had crossed the line after bouncing down off the crossbar.
“I’m not going to complain about the use of video today,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “It helped correct a mistake.”
Pogba had been unimpressive until the goal, but the Manchester United midfielder set up a 1-2 with substitute Olivier Giroud and beat Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan to give France the victory. DENMARK 1, PERU 0 >> Kasper Schmeichel’s slew of saves made Yussuf Poulsen’s opportunistic second-half goal stand up in a Group C victory in Saransk, Russia.
Poulsen squeezed his goal between charging Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and the left post in the 59th minute after collecting a pass from midfielder Christian Eriksen.
Appearing at the World Cup for the first time in 36 years, Peru had overwhelming fan support in the Mordovia Arena and the bulk of scoring chances, including a late first-half penalty shot that Christian Cueva sent sailing over the crossbar.
The penalty was awarded after Gambian referee Bakary Gassama used the video assistant referee system to decide Poulsen had tripped Cueva in the penalty area.
MEXICO COACH SEES GERMAN WEAKNESS >> Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has spotted a weakness in Germany’s defense. The Colombian said Germany’s four-man backline leaves itself open to being hit on the counterattack because it plays too high up the field.
“Any team that tries to play with a back four at the halfway line is exposed with 35 meters in behind them, and they are not an exception,” he said before his team takes on Germany today in Group F at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
Still, that doesn’t mean Mexico will sit deep and try to play on the counter, Osorio added.
“I believe 100 percent in our players, and I think that with our midfielders we can fight for ball possession,” he said. “We will not change the way we play. We have our style in the Mexican national team, and we’re going to match up their game.” EGYPT’S SALAH READY >> Mohamed Salah celebrated his 26th birthday with a Chechen cake and the news that he will play in Egypt’s next match.
A statement from the Egyptian soccer association gave no details about his fitness except that the Liverpool striker participated fully in training Saturday in Grozny, the team’s base in Russia’s Chechnya region.
Salah injured his left shoulder in the Champions League final last month, putting his World Cup in doubt.
He was an unused substitute in Egypt’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Friday.