Nigeria drooped to a baffling 2-0 vanquish in their opening session of the 2018 World Cup as Croatia urged Saturday night at Kaliningrad Stadium.

Croatia - pegged by numerous as dull ponies for the competition - were in charge for a great part of the diversion, and brought a merited lead into the interim before Luka Modric tucked home a second-half punishment to wrap up three pivotal early focuses in the competition.

There may have been a component of fortune about the opening objective as Mario Mandzukic's header was diverted into his own net by Oghenekaro Etebo following 32 minutes, however it was the slightest Croatia merited as Nigeria neglected to meet people's high expectations.

The Super Eagles offered little of note going ahead, with Chelsea's Victor Moses depending on various showy falls while Alex Iwobi was taken off following a calm hour of football for the Arsenal playmaker.
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Croatia continued squeezing for another objective to make the amusement safe, and they got their reward from the punishment spot after Leon Balogun mysteriously wrestled Mandzukic to the floor at a corner with 19 minutes remaining.

Nigeria were irate with ref Sandro Ricci as the Brazilian booked Balogun for good measure, yet it was the right choice before Modric serenely opened the spot-kick home to seal the win.