Croatia will bring out the big guns on June 16 when they face Nigeria in what will be their “most important game” at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Croatia’s best record at the tournament was a third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup in France and the last time out were dumped out in the group stage.

Ahead of the 21st edition of the football fiesta, The Blazers are hoping the current generation of stars will go far in the tournament and have set their sights on making that statement against Nigeria in Kaliningrad.

Speaking with Babafemi Raji on Sports Machine [Brila FM] Media and Communications officer of the Croatia FA, Pacak Tomislav insists the world cup opener against Nigeria will be the most important game.

Pacak Tomislav, Croatia FA Media and Communications officer | Credit: Youtube

‘This is one of the toughest groups at the World Cup. Nigeria has the youngest and one of the exciting teams, Argentina have Lionel Messi, who is one of the greatest footballers ever.

‘We know Iceland because they beat us in the qualifiers so, we know how hard this will be.

‘All the games are important and the opponents to but, the game against Nigeria will be the most important and particularly because it’s the first match,’ Tomislav stated.