Playing for 90
Fansided

Highlighting the best World Cup matches of Round 1

By Zack Nelson

VILLAREAL, SPAIN - JUNE 03: The Spain team line up for a photo prior to kick off during the International Friendly match between Spain and Switzerland at Estadio de La Ceramica on June 3, 2018 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)
VILLAREAL, SPAIN - JUNE 03: The Spain team line up for a photo prior to kick off during the International Friendly match between Spain and Switzerland at Estadio de La Ceramica on June 3, 2018 in Villareal, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Luke Modric of Croatia is challenged by Marcelo of Brazil and Philippe Coutinho of Brazil during the International Friendly match between Croatia and Brazil at Anfield on June 3, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Luke Modric of Croatia is challenged by Marcelo of Brazil and Philippe Coutinho of Brazil during the International Friendly match between Croatia and Brazil at Anfield on June 3, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

Saturday 16th June – Croatia vs Nigeria

If you’re a casual fan, you probably only know about Nigeria because of their sick jerseys, but they’ve got some pretty good players as well.

The Super Eagles are headlined by Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi. Outside of Riyad Mahrez, Ndidi was Leicester’s best player this season, *almost* filling the massive hole that N’Golo Kante left.

At just 21 years old, he’s already shown that he’s a quality defensive midfielder, and he’ll look to take his form into this match to help Nigeria stifle Luka Modric and this Croatian midfield.

Speaking of Croatia’s midfield, they have one of the best in this tournament, featuring Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Rakitic, and Marcelo Brozovic.

If Mandzukic and Perisic can get going up top, Croatia could seriously be a dark horse to make a deep run this year.

Prediction: Croatia 2-1 Nigeria

Honorable mention – Argentina vs Iceland

Fans should try to watch Argentina as much as possible, but if there’s one of Argentina’s matches that you have to miss, let it be this other Group D match.

As we saw in Euro 2016 and in UEFA qualifying, Iceland are obviously no joke at the international level. My only concern about this match in particular is that they’ll gameplan not to lose, meaning  they’ll sit back and try to absorb as much Messi/Aguero/Higuain/Dybala firepower as possible and play for a draw. I don’t think it ends up working, though…

Prediction: Argentina 3-0 Iceland

Home/World Cup