As the 2018 World Cup gets underway, the opening matches have begun with great flair.
Croatia is set to take on Nigeria as both teams vie for supremacy in a very tough Group D. Each squad boasts a roster of impressive players and brings their own unique advantages to the upcoming match.
Here’s all you need to know about when and where the match is, how to watch, key players to keep an eye on and the odds for the upcoming football match.
When is the match on?
The upcoming match will take place on Saturday, June 16 at 3pm EST.
Where will the match take place?
The Croatia vs. Nigeria match will be held at Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia.
How to watch the match
Viewers in the United States can catch the Group D clash on Fox and Telemundo with live streaming available on fuboTV.
Football fans in the United Kingdom can watch the upcoming match on ITV while streaming on ITV Player is also available.
Players to watch
The centerpiece of the Croatian squad is Luka Modric. The Real Madrid star, fresh off another UEFA Champions League victory, will look to dominate the midfield and keep Nigeria’s defense on the back foot.
For Nigeria, the 21-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho is thought to be one of the key players. The Leicester City forward will look to prove himself on the world stage following his recent struggles since joining his new club last year.
Other key players to watch include Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel for Nigeria and Andrej Kramaric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic for the Croatian team.
Match odds
Odds makers have favored Croatia as the strong favorites to notch their first win in the 2018 World Cup in their upcoming match against the Nigerian team.
The Croatian squad is anchored by Real Madrid star Luka Modric, himself backed by an impressive supporting cast that blends offensive firepower with plenty of experience in high-stakes matches. Though the team had a rather disappointing campaign four years ago in Brazil, they’re hungry for another shot and looking to take down their competitors in their tough group.
Nigeria could give Croatia a run for their money however. Their squad is filled with young, talented players like Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Iheanacho and many others. The team’s impressive offensive talent could be enough to help them pull off the upset against the Croatians.