/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F20%2F31%2Fsports-mole-favicon-32x32.png "Sports Mole FAVICON"){kind=small}
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F22%2F43%2Fworld-cup-header-www.jpg "World Cup header WWW")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F12%2Fcrolog.png "Croatia national football team")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F12%2Fniglog_1.png "Nigeria national football team")
Reaction
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F18%2F23%2Fzlatko-dalic.jpg "Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic on November 9, 2017")
Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic sent home from World Cup
Nikola Kalinic will play no further part in Croatia's World Cup campaign after refusing to come on as a substitute in their 2-0 win against Nigeria on Saturday evening.Jun 18, 15:55
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F18%2F23%2Fgernot-rohr.jpg "Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr on June 2, 2018")
Gernot Rohr defends Nigeria performance
Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr defends his team's overall performance against Croatia in their 2018 World Cup opener on Saturday night.Jun 17, 14:46
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F18%2F23%2Fluka-modric.jpg "Croatia midfielder Luka Modric in action during his side's international friendly with Brazil at Wembley on June 3, 2018")
Luka Modric: 'Croatia confidence boosted'
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric says that his side's confidence has been boosted after their 2-0 win over Nigeria on Saturday.Jun 17, 10:08
The Match
Match Report
Croatia kickstart their 2018 World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nigeria in Group D at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Russia.
Live Commentary
Relive Sports Mole's coverage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia as Croatia beat Nigeria 2-0 in Group D at the newly-built Kaliningrad Stadium.
Team News
Former Watford striker Odion Ighalo leads the line for Nigeria's 2018 World Cup opener against Croatia in Kaliningrad.
Preview
Sports Mole provides predicted XIs, team news and a full match preview for the World Cup Group D clash between Croatia and Nigeria at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F18%2F23%2Fjohn-obi-mikel.jpg "Nigeria's John Obi Mikel warms up ahead of his side's international friendly with England at Wembley on June 2, 2018")
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F23%2Fgambling-online.png "Footer logo for GAMSTOP"){kind=small}
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F06%2FGambleAware%20Secondary%20Main%20Grey.png "on February 3, 2024"){kind=small}