BETTER RECORD AGAINST EUROPEAN TEAMS
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been to all editions of the World Cup since their debut in 1994 only missing the 2006 edition held in Germany.
The three-time African champions have a fair statistics against the European teams at the Mundial, having met 11 times, recording five wins, five losses and one draw.
The Eagles have also met European teams twice at their opening fixtures and have come top on both occasions.
Nigeria mauled Bulgaria 3-0 in their debut game in USA’94, before going ahead to defeat almighty Spain 3-2 four years laterin France and a lone goal victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brazil 2014.
Interestingly, Nigeria’s World Cup wins has majorly been against European teams.
CROATIA’S POOR OPENING DAY RECORD
The Blazers of Croatia have lost their entire three previous World Cup opening games fixture, which could have a psychological effect on the team.
The team which have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on four occasions (1998, 2002, 2006, and 2014) since gaining independence in 1991 have only managed to score in one of their three opening games. The Croats only first day win in the Mundial was a 3-1 victory in France 1998 against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaican.
They lost 1-0 against Mexico in Korea/Japan 2002, 1-0 to Brazil in Germany 2006 and 3-1 against the samba boys of Brazil four years ago.
GOOD PREPARATION GOING TO RUSSIA
Close followers of the Super Eagles will agree that this is one of the best preparations the team has had ahead of a major competition in years.
The Eagles journey have been rosy with a well laid out program from Uyo to the oil rich city of Port Harcourt and later Austria, bereft of usual squabble over bonuses, wages and allowances will no doubt work in the teams favour.
Also, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) got the Eagles a top notch coach, coupled with the grade ’A’ international friendly against the likes of England, Serbia and Poland which has gone a long way to prepare the team for the task ahead.
The current crop of players are listed as the youngest at the 2018 World Cup and team’s camp is united, with the team jelling well ahead of their first game on June 16.