Coach Zlatko Dalic reveals Croatia will treat Nigeria with caution at next year’s Fifa World Cup.
The Europeans, making their fourth global football showpiece got zoned in Group D alongside Argentina and Iceland.
They will be facing the Super Eagles for the first time ever in Kaliningrad on June 16 and the 51-year-old discloses the Fiery Ones are cautious of taking on the unfamiliar three-time African champions.
“The Nigerians are an unknown team and we have to study them well,” Dalic told Croatian Football website.
“They are the first in their qualifying group without defeat, they are young, with the German leader at the helm. We have time to prepare everything, including the choice of camp.
“We are starting with the analysis to be ready for the World Cup, and the most important thing is for our players to be healthy and true, and we will be looking for friendly rivals outside Europe, from Africa, because we all know most about Europeans. Argentina, but our strategy has to come down to strong rivals and strong matches.”
The Fiery Ones – inspired by legendary Davor Suker placed third in the 1998 edition in France, while a place in the second round (USA 94 and Brazil 2014) stands out as Nigeria best performance at the Fifa World Cup.
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