Game 2 : Croatia v Nigeria
Group D, Game 2: Croatia v Nigeria
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Sat 16th June at 2000 BST
Result:
Croatia 2 (Etebo 32’ o.g., Modrić 70’ pen)
Nigeria 0
If people think Saints’ new home shirt is bad (or just ‘meh’) check out the retina-burning green Nigeria shirts as modelled by the supporters in the stands…these are quite dazzling, with the fetching green and white downward chevron pattern, I am quite pleased Saints hadn’t gone down the dazzling chevron route. However, this evening the team were in their second kit, a rather nice dark green (as the light-green-and-white chevrons are deemed to be too similar to Croatia’s red-and-white chequerboard!), so the loud chevrons will have to wait for another time.
I have an interesting factoid, courtesy of ITV: the brand new 35,000 seat Kaliningrad Stadium is slowly sinking, having been constructed on top of a swamp and apparently won’t last very long. There are shades of Winchester Cathedral, which was also constructed on marshy ground, although my money would be on the 11th century cathedral lasting a few more centuries, which can't be said of the stadium (and the cathedral was shored up in the early 20th Century, saving it from collapse). The stadium was only opened in May so the botched construction means it will likely be mothballed once the tournament is over. FC Baltika Kaliningrad were supposed to move in after the World Cup but this is now not likely to happen unless the stadium can be saved with some heavy engineering.
First half
Croatia had the better chances, including the goal and an Ivan Perišić chance that just cleared the crossbar but otherwise that was a pretty lukewarm half. Nigeria were unlucky with the goal, Mario Mandžukić’s shot was going wide but took a deflection off Oghenekaro Etebo and went in.
Being 1-0 down, Nigeria would have to go for it in the second half and that should have meant things becoming more open and, dare I say, a bit more exciting. There were no shots on target in the first half.
Half time: Croatia 1 (Etebo 32’ o.g.), Nigeria 0
Second half
There was a bad miss in 55th minute from Croatia and it would have been game over at 2-0 if the shot had gone in, rather than over the bar. Nigeria had slightly improved but it was still a tepid sort of game where it didn’t look as if there will be further goals, at least not from the men in the dark green strip. It says a lot about this game that the first shot on target came in the 60th minute, courtesy of a shot from Odion Ighalo which went straight into the arms of Croatia keeper Danijel Subašić.
70th min - ooo a penalty, the fifth of the day across the four games. Croatia were the beneficiaries of some bizarre and appalling defending as William Troost-Ekong obviously thought he was in a wrestling match (file under WTF was he thinking of?) and threw Mario Mandžukić to the ground. Luka Modrić put the penalty away and Nigeria were done for, they were below par and didn't look like scoring.
For the travelling Nigeria supporters the lethargic performance from their team must be disappointing and with the amount of times Victor Moses threw himself to the ground, maybe he could try out for the Nigeria Olympic diving team if they have one…?
Overall the match was pretty boring and, while Croatia were not that great, Nigeria were abysmal. Ok, I am not going to lie, I was hoping for a Dejan Lovren howler or three. He’s one we Saints fans love to hate, with good reason. Did he ever find his head; we know he lost it somewhere on Merseyside…? Sadly he didn't have much to do so there was no chance of him heading the ball to the opposition in the box or slicing the ball into his own net.
Btw, the ITV commentary team for this match were John Champion and Ally McCoist, who are the best commentary duo I’ve heard so far this World Cup.
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad
Sat 16th June at 2000 BST
Result:
Croatia 2 (Etebo 32’ o.g., Modrić 70’ pen)
Nigeria 0
If people think Saints’ new home shirt is bad (or just ‘meh’) check out the retina-burning green Nigeria shirts as modelled by the supporters in the stands…these are quite dazzling, with the fetching green and white downward chevron pattern, I am quite pleased Saints hadn’t gone down the dazzling chevron route. However, this evening the team were in their second kit, a rather nice dark green (as the light-green-and-white chevrons are deemed to be too similar to Croatia’s red-and-white chequerboard!), so the loud chevrons will have to wait for another time.
I have an interesting factoid, courtesy of ITV: the brand new 35,000 seat Kaliningrad Stadium is slowly sinking, having been constructed on top of a swamp and apparently won’t last very long. There are shades of Winchester Cathedral, which was also constructed on marshy ground, although my money would be on the 11th century cathedral lasting a few more centuries, which can't be said of the stadium (and the cathedral was shored up in the early 20th Century, saving it from collapse). The stadium was only opened in May so the botched construction means it will likely be mothballed once the tournament is over. FC Baltika Kaliningrad were supposed to move in after the World Cup but this is now not likely to happen unless the stadium can be saved with some heavy engineering.
First half
Croatia had the better chances, including the goal and an Ivan Perišić chance that just cleared the crossbar but otherwise that was a pretty lukewarm half. Nigeria were unlucky with the goal, Mario Mandžukić’s shot was going wide but took a deflection off Oghenekaro Etebo and went in.
Being 1-0 down, Nigeria would have to go for it in the second half and that should have meant things becoming more open and, dare I say, a bit more exciting. There were no shots on target in the first half.
Half time: Croatia 1 (Etebo 32’ o.g.), Nigeria 0
Second half
There was a bad miss in 55th minute from Croatia and it would have been game over at 2-0 if the shot had gone in, rather than over the bar. Nigeria had slightly improved but it was still a tepid sort of game where it didn’t look as if there will be further goals, at least not from the men in the dark green strip. It says a lot about this game that the first shot on target came in the 60th minute, courtesy of a shot from Odion Ighalo which went straight into the arms of Croatia keeper Danijel Subašić.
70th min - ooo a penalty, the fifth of the day across the four games. Croatia were the beneficiaries of some bizarre and appalling defending as William Troost-Ekong obviously thought he was in a wrestling match (file under WTF was he thinking of?) and threw Mario Mandžukić to the ground. Luka Modrić put the penalty away and Nigeria were done for, they were below par and didn't look like scoring.
For the travelling Nigeria supporters the lethargic performance from their team must be disappointing and with the amount of times Victor Moses threw himself to the ground, maybe he could try out for the Nigeria Olympic diving team if they have one…?
Overall the match was pretty boring and, while Croatia were not that great, Nigeria were abysmal. Ok, I am not going to lie, I was hoping for a Dejan Lovren howler or three. He’s one we Saints fans love to hate, with good reason. Did he ever find his head; we know he lost it somewhere on Merseyside…? Sadly he didn't have much to do so there was no chance of him heading the ball to the opposition in the box or slicing the ball into his own net.
Btw, the ITV commentary team for this match were John Champion and Ally McCoist, who are the best commentary duo I’ve heard so far this World Cup.
