Nigeria and Croatia may be unfamiliar foes having never met at this level but the odds seem to be slightly in favour of the Africans.
Indeed the Blazers are the stronger on paper, flaunting some of the biggest names in the game such as Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic all signed to Spain’s big two.
Not forgetting Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic on the payroll of Juventus and Inter Milan respectively.
In terms of the FIFA Rankings, 28 places separate the Europeans and the Africans who are placed 48th.
However, if Croatians stats from the opening matches at previous editions is anything to go by, then expect Gernot Rohr’s team to come out tops.
The Croats have lost their opening group games in each of their last three World Cups; two of those against Brazil.
The Stats Favour @NGSuperEagles to win today…
Croatia have lost their opening group game in each of their last three World Cups, their last two openers coming against Brazil (2006, 2014).#ShareACokeWithSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/pnZZZfeF0C
— Kelechi Nkoro (@K1Says) June 16, 2018
Worst, still, they’ve not advanced past the group phase in 20 years.
Nigeria, meanwhile, reached the last 16 in Brazil.
