Croatia vs Nigeria, World Cup 2018 - as it happened: Luka Modric and Co up and running in Russia

Re-live all the action from the Group D game

2018 Russia World Cup in numbers

Nigeria have qualified for five of the last six World Cups, so they are no stranger to competition. However, going against Croatia with players who are playing their first ever World Cup might be tricky.

Despite Croatia squeezing through the playoffs, head coach Zlatko Dalic has some impressive players on his roster, including Real Madrid's Luca Modric.

But Nigeria's 4-0 victory over Cameroon gave them the boost they needed, and with that spirit and a squad counting Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho, the Super Eagles could surprise us all.

Follow all the live action below…

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What time is kick-off?

Croatia vs Nigeria kicks off at 8pm BST.

Where can I watch it?

The game will be shown on ITV.

Odds

Croatia: 13/10

Nigeria: 61/20

Draw: 41/20

Prediction

Croatia 1-1 Nigeria. Both teams have brilliant attacking players so the game is bound to be a cracker.

But who do you think will win? Let us know by voting above.

Key Points

• It's day three in Russia and an action packed day featuring four games from Groups C and D
• Paul Pogba scores late winner as France beat Australia
• Lionel Messi misses a penalty as Argentina draw with Iceland
• Yussuf Poulsen winner edges Denmark out to victory
• ​Croatia get their World Cup up and running with comfortable win over Nigeria 

[16 June 2018 18:58 · Sam Dymond]

Good evening and welcome to Kaliningrad for The Independent’s live coverage of the Group D encounter between Croatia and Nigeria.

[16 June 2018 18:59 · Sam Dymond]

Here's how we analysed Croatia's chances prior to the tournament kicking-off.

[16 June 2018 19:00 · Sam Dymond]

And here's what we made of the Nigeria squad.

[16 June 2018 19:08 · Sam Dymond]

Croatia v Nigeria

[16 June 2018 19:41 · Sam Dymond]

The supporters of both countries are taking their seats inside the stadium...

[16 June 2018 19:44 · Sam Dymond]

Let's have a closer look at the how the two countries line up at the Kaliningrad Stadium...

Croatia: Subasic, Vrsaljko, Lovren, Vida, Strinic, Rakitic, Modric, Rebic, Kramaric, Perisic, Mandzukic

Subs: Livakovic, L. Kalinic, Corluka, Kovacic, Brozovic, Jedvaj, Bradaric, Caleta-Car, N. Kalinic, Badelj, Pjaca, Pivaric

Nigeria: Francis, Shehu, Ekong, Balogun, Idowu, Ndidi, Etebo, Moses, Mikel, Iwobi, Ighalo

Subs: Ezenwa, Akpeyi, Echiejile, Musa, Nwankwo, Iheanacho, Obi, Onazi, Ogu, Awaziem, Ebuehi, Omeruo

Referee: Sandro Ricci (Brazil)

Real Madrid's Luka Modric is the heartbeat of the Croatia midfield. 

[16 June 2018 19:54 · Sam Dymond]

I hope you made good use of the hour's break. It's almost time for the World Cup's fourth match of the day. Here come the players...

[16 June 2018 19:57 · Sam Dymond]

Please stand for the national anthems.

To be honest, neither are great although they both sound perfectly acceptable when following the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, which is played for the 227th time this week.

[16 June 2018 19:59 · Sam Dymond]

If Nigeria's World Cup kit was the most in demand ahead of this tournament, then the footballing hipsters should check out the tracksuit tops the team is using during the warm-ups. Sheer class.

[16 June 2018 20:00 · Sam Dymond]

KICK-OFF: Here we go! Nigeria, in their changed kit of dark green (boo!), get the game underway and win a dangerous free-kick within 14 seconds after Dejan Lovren plunders his way into the back of Odion Ighalo. It's good to know he's capable of such miscalculations at international level too. Still, his Croatia teammates admirably deal with the delivery.