England GK Butland Tips Luka Modric To Be The key Player For Croatia Vs Nigeria

Published: June 15, 2018

England international goalkeeper Jack Butland is tipping Real Madrid star Luka Modrić to be the key player for Croatia in tomorrow's World Cup opener against Nigeria at Kaliningrad Stadium.

The Stoke City netminder watched from the bench as the Three Lions grinded out a 2-1 win over the Super Eagles at Wembley on June 2.

Croatia have in their ranks šime Vrsaljko (Atlético Madrid), Ivan Perišić (Inter Milan), Ivan Rakitić (Barcelona), Mario Mandžukić (Juventus) but Butland has picked Modric as the most important player who can make a difference.

''Nigeria is a good team and nobody would have easy job with them at the start of the tournament, but if Modrić plays as he knows to, if he get some space, he can lead Croatia for the big result,'' Butland told reporters including Sportske Novosti.

''Not just in that game, but even much further. We are talking about one of the best midfielders in the world. He makes the difference.''

The Super Eagles trained at the match venue, Kaliningrad Stadium, on Friday evening ahead of the meeting with Croatia.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : hns-cff.hr