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The World Cup has been an extravagant affair so far. The first match saw Russia crushing Saudi Arabia 5-0. The 2nd match day saw Uruguay and Iran winning 1-0 against Egypt and Morocco, respectively. Spain and Portugal were engaged in a thriller where the match finished with a score line of 3-3.
The match between Croatia and Nigeria will be an epic contest. It will be an exuberant and talented Nigerian team up against the Croatia's "Golden Generation". There will be a lot of attention on Nigeria's jersey rather than their football. This match could make or break the hopes of qualifying for the last 16. Here's a look at 5 players who can have an impact on the result of the match.
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#5 Mario Mandzukic
The star forward is one of the best players in the Croatian squad and can also be termed as one of the best strikers in Croatian football's history. He has found the back of the net 30 times in 82 appearances for his country. He scored thrice in the qualifying campaign for Croatia.
He is known for his physical strength and great fitness. He is one of the best strikers when it comes to aerial power. He is pretty decent at lay-offs and holding on to the ball. These factors could make him a major threat for an inexperienced Nigerian team. Although he hasn't been able to score goals on a frequent basis in the recent past, he can be a dangerous player on his day.
#4 Victor Moses
The Chelsea star has been in sensational form for the Nigerians in the recent friendlies and was one of their best players. The Super Eagles wing back was the top scorer for them in their World Cup Qualifying campaign. He scored 3 goals including a brace against Algeria. He has played 34 matches for Nigeria and scored 11 goals.
His physical strength allows him to avoid tackles and keep the ball close to his range. He is very good in both the defense and attack which makes him a valuable asset for Nigeria. He is a danger for any opposition in the wing back. He could be a threat for oppositions at that position and his confidence will be high courtesy his good performances in the friendlies.
His physical strength could be a huge factor when the Croatian players try to tackle him. He has World Cup experience having played in the Fifa World Cup 2014. He is one of the most dangerous players for them along with Wilfred Ndidi. He is a reliable player and the entire nation will hope for some sparkling performances from him at the biggest stage.
#3 Ivan Rakitic
The Barcelona star will be remembered as one of the best Croatian footballers of all time. He has played 92 matches for them and scored 14 times. He doesn't have any significant weaknesses which means that the, opposition can't come with a specific strategy for him. He also scored a goal for The Balkans in the Fifa World Cup Qualifying campaign.
He is very good at passing and taking direct free kicks. His experience and technical ability could be a key factor for Croatia in both the match against Nigeria and the tournament. His concentration and lay-offs could result in a defeat for the Super Eagles.
#2 Wilfred Ndidi
The young mid-fielder has been a revelation for Leicester City in the Premier League. He ended the season with the most tackles, 138. His tally was 21 tackles more than the player who finished 2nd on the list. The defensive mid had the 4th highest tackle success %. He likes to tackle and it is his biggest strength which will be very important for the Super Eagles.
He is also very good in the aerial duels. Due to his love for tackling, he has often committed a lot of fouls which have led to him being given a lot of cards. If he can control himself to an extent, he could be lethal against an aging Croatian attack. If he stays on field for the entire duration of the match, Nigeria can be assured of a great day in the office against the mighty Balkans.
#1 Luka Modric
The Croatian legend has been fabulous throughout his career. He has been a star for Real Madrid as well. He is the 3rd most capped player for his country with 106 caps. He has also scored 12 goals. The midfielder can be deployed as a deep lying playmaker. He is often regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. He can play with both his feet.
He is terrific at dribbling, key passes and at long shots. He is often considered as the master of pre-assists. He is a very handy contributor in the defense as well. All these factors coupled with his experience make him a highly dangerous player for the inexperienced Nigeria. He might not score any goals but his passes and pre-assists could be decisive in the final outcome of the maych
