In a stadium built on a swamp, Croatia finally laid down foundations for a half decent World Cup campaign.
It is far too early to say their golden generation will deliver anything worthwhile in what might be their last hurrah, but crucially they have kicked their nation’s bad habit of opening with a whimper.
In each of their past three trips to the World Cup – in 2002, 2006 and 2014 – they were beaten in their first match and in each of those competitions they failed to get out of the group.
Croatia began their World Cup Group D campaign with three points as they beat Nigeria in Kaliningrad on Saturday evening
![Captain Luka Modric lead by example and scored Croatia's second goal of the night as they took control of Group D](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506CF800000578-5852199-image-a-41_1529181376292.jpg)
Captain Luka Modric lead by example and scored Croatia’s second goal of the night as they took control of Group D
![The opening goal arrived on 32 minutes when a diving header from Mario Manduzkic (left) was deflected into the Nigeria goal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/20/4D503BF700000578-0-image-a-26_1529178970318.jpg)
The opening goal arrived on 32 minutes when a diving header from Mario Manduzkic (left) was deflected into the Nigeria goal
![The opener went down as an Oghenekaro Etebo own goal after Manduzkic's header hit the Nigeria No 8 before finding the net](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D5031EE00000578-0-image-a-30_1529179219230.jpg)
The opener went down as an Oghenekaro Etebo own goal after Manduzkic’s header hit the Nigeria No 8 before finding the net
So this was a good win, not least because Group D is arguably the toughest and they now lead it ahead of engagements with Argentina on Thursday and Iceland the following Tuesday.
The damage was done with a first-half own goal from Oghenekaro Etebo, who this week signed for Stoke, and a penalty scored by Luka Modric midway through the second.
The rest of the match? Largely forgettable, particularly from a Nigerian perspective, which is rather strange as they have arrived with a moderately enterprising squad and none of the usual baggage of bonus rows to distract them. They were awful.
Croatia were less than brilliant themselves, certainly not the full sum of excellent parts, but they created far more, albeit with shots from distance rather than any great piece of craftsmanship.
Indeed, they managed to finish the half in front despite failing to get a single shot on goal.
On 14 minutes, Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic was at the end of a one-touch blitz from left to right and was only marginally over with his shot from the edge of the area.
A couple of minutes on, Andrej Kramaric put one wide and Ante Rebic had an effort deflected a fraction off course. All reasonably close calls from a side with four forwards on the pitch.
![Striker Manduzkic celebrated by clenching both of his fists after Croatia made the breakthrough at the Kaliningrad Stadium](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D503BCD00000578-0-image-a-31_1529179385687.jpg)
Striker Manduzkic celebrated by clenching both of his fists after Croatia made the breakthrough at the Kaliningrad Stadium
![Etebo, Odion Ighalo (No 9) and Leon Balogun (No 6) looked dejected as they trudged back into position after Croatia scored](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D50323900000578-0-image-a-35_1529179913809.jpg)
Etebo, Odion Ighalo (No 9) and Leon Balogun (No 6) looked dejected as they trudged back into position after Croatia scored
![Real Madrid midfielder Modric (right) lead by example during the goal celebrations as the Croatia captain grabbed Mandzukic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D50380C00000578-0-image-a-36_1529179985032.jpg)
Real Madrid midfielder Modric (right) lead by example during the goal celebrations as the Croatia captain grabbed Mandzukic
![Modric, pictured being congratulated by Ante Rebic, was celebrating again on 71 minutes after firing Croatia into a 2-0 lead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506CAC00000578-5852199-image-a-38_1529181342499.jpg)
Modric, pictured being congratulated by Ante Rebic, was celebrating again on 71 minutes after firing Croatia into a 2-0 lead
And Nigeria? Nothing so promising. Woeful, actually, for a side that beat Argentina last November. They were inhibited, limited and found no spark in Victor Moses or Alex Iwobi, while the service throughout for the former Watford striker Odion Ighalo was pitiful.
Their first resemblance of a shot came on 20 minutes when Ighalo had a soft drive muffled and the next came in the 45th, when Iwobi was blocked by Dejan Lovren.
In between those attempts, they offered zilch and went behind. Luka Modric was the architect of the move with a corner that Rebic flicked towards the far post and Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic nudged it on again with a diving header. That heading off target until it struck the standing leg of Etebo and diverted in for an own goal.
Nigeria started the second half with more verve, but it amounted to nothing. They were lucky to avoid going 2-0 down when Rebic fluffed a volley in front of goal, but then conceded a 71st-minute penalty when William Troost-Ekong wrestled Mandzukic to the ground. It was a clumsy challenge that just about summed up his team.
Modric buried the kick and Nigeria.
![Croatia's second goal came from a penalty awarded for a foolish foul by defender William Troost-Ekong (No 5) on Mandzukic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506CC800000578-5852199-image-a-42_1529181511512.jpg)
Croatia’s second goal came from a penalty awarded for a foolish foul by defender William Troost-Ekong (No 5) on Mandzukic
![Nigeria protested against the award of the penalty but referee Sandro Ricci stood firm and issued Troost-Ekong a yellow card](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506BD600000578-5852199-image-a-45_1529181574839.jpg)
Nigeria protested against the award of the penalty but referee Sandro Ricci stood firm and issued Troost-Ekong a yellow card
![Former Tottenham Hotspur star Modric was clinical from 12 yards after he struck the ball very sweetly from the penalty kick](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506BFD00000578-5852199-image-a-47_1529181637367.jpg)
Former Tottenham Hotspur star Modric was clinical from 12 yards after he struck the ball very sweetly from the penalty kick
![Nigeria goalkeeper Francis Uzoho dived in the wrong direction but he would have struggled to stop Modric's kick anyway](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506C7400000578-5852199-image-a-48_1529181689981.jpg)
Nigeria goalkeeper Francis Uzoho dived in the wrong direction but he would have struggled to stop Modric’s kick anyway
![Modric was surrounded by his team-mates as Croatia's players celebrated their second goal in front of the fans in Kaliningrad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/16/21/4D506BEB00000578-5852199-image-a-51_1529181758097.jpg)
Modric was surrounded by his team-mates as Croatia’s players celebrated their second goal in front of the fans in Kaliningrad