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Italian Soccer Serie A Blog supports Italian Serie A players in the World Cup

53% Ball Possession CROATIA and 47% Ball Possession NIGERIA

Croatia 2 – 0 Nigeria

32′ Oghenekaro Etebo (own goal)
71′ Luka Modric (pen)

Mission accomplished.  Croatia winning the First Stage Group D game on Saturday 16 June at the Kaliningrad Stadium claiming all three points and grabbing the first position of the group.  Sadly, Nigeria conceded an own goal which gave the lead to Croatia and then a penalty converted by Luka Modric.

FIFA First Stage Group D Standing after the first game reads:

Croatia in the 1st position with 3 points and a positive goal difference 0f +2. Argentina in the 2nd position with 1 point and a “0” goal difference, Iceland in the 3rd position with 1 point and a “0” goal difference. Nigeria in the 4th position with 0 points and a negative goal difference of -2.

And so, after the first round of games in Group D…

1) #CRO
2) #ARG
3) #ISL
4) #NGA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GvulvQKvzB

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018

Croatia takes the lead in the 32nd minute with the original action initiated by the headed shot of forward Mario Mandzukic and after being deflected by Etebo causing the own goal.

?????
32′ @MarioMandzukic9 header is deflected by Etebo into his own net as #Croatia takes the 1:0 lead!#BeProud #FlamingPride #CRONGA #Vatreni? #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Re8ttuk2PJ

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) June 16, 2018

Second goal of the match arrives in the 72nd minute.  Captain Luka Modric converts the penalty  to secure the victory.

?????
72′ Calmly converted by #Croatia captain @lukamodric10! The lead is doubled (2:0)!#BeProud #FlamingPride #CRONGA #Vatreni? #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wESHs11lHH

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) June 16, 2018

Here is CROATIA official starting lineup by Head Coach Dalić:

CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić; Modrić, Rakitić; Rebić, Kramarić, Perišić; Mandžukić.

Here is NIGERIA official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Rohr:

NIGERIA (4-2-3-1): Uzoho, Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Idowu; Etebo, Ndidi; Moses, Obi Mikel, Iwobi; Ighalo.

Italian Serie A Players with Croatia and Nigeria

Croatia National team: 6 Italian Serie A players: Sampdoria defender Ivan Strinic, Fiorentina midfielder Milan Badelj, Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic, Inter forward Ivan Perisic, and AC Milan forward Nikola Kalinic

Nigeria National team: 1 Italian Serie A and 1 Serie B players Torino midfielder Joel Obi (Serie A) and Crotone forward Simeon Nwankwo (Serie B).
————

Here we go – Match 4! #CRONGA pic.twitter.com/UokPd4IbtX

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018

#CRO are ready ? pic.twitter.com/nLq8MoPwE5

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018

twitter.com/NKRijeka

Photo: twitter.com/NGSuperEagles

Nigeria Official Starting Lineup against Croatia

.@NGSuperEagles XI vs #Croatia #SoarSuperEagles #NGA #Team9jaStrong #CRONGA pic.twitter.com/c5O91HHgxF

— ?? Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 16, 2018

Photo: twitter.com/NKRijeka

Croatia Official Starting Lineup against Nigeria

Will the @NGSuperEagles soar tonight? #NGA pic.twitter.com/NQiGDwrOqv

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018

?????#CRO starting lineup!#BeProud #FlamingPride #CRONGA #WorldCup #Vatreni? pic.twitter.com/iIwcTt7Un2

— HNS | CFF (@HNS_CFF) June 16, 2018

FT | #CRO dismantle #NGA in Kaliningrad to top Group D! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/qBdpSGMCx9

— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018

2018 FIFA World Cup
First stage – Group D

Croatia 2 – 0 Nigeria
Saturday 16 June 2018
Kaliningrad Stadium
Kaliningrad, Russia

21:00 Local Time

Referee: RICCI Sandro (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: DE CARVALHO Emerson (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2:VAN GASSE Marcelo (BRA)
Fourth official: MATEU LAHOZ Antonio (ESP)
Video Assistant Referee: ORSATO Daniele (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: ASTROZA Carlos (CHI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: SAMPAIO Wilton (BRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 3: DIAS Artur (POR)

Goals: 32′ Oghenekaro Etebo (own goal), 71′ Luka Modric (pen)

Official lineups – formations :

CROATIA (4-2-3-1): Subašić; Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinić; Modrić, Rakitić; Rebić, Kramarić, Perišić; Mandžukić.

Subs: Livaković, Ćorluka, Kovačić, Brozović, L. Kalinić, Jedvaj, Bradarić, Ćaleta-Car, N. Kalinić, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivarić.

Coach: Dalić.

NIGERIA (4-2-3-1): Uzoho, Shehu, Troost-Ekong, Balogun, Idowu; Etebo, Ndidi; Moses, Obi Mikel, Iwobi; Ighalo.

Subs: Ezenwa, Echiejile, Musa, Nwankwo, Iheanacho, Obi, Akpeyi, Onazi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Omeruo.

Coach: Rohr.