Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic says his team’s first group game against Nigeria will determine how far they will go at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
With games against one of the tournament favourites Argentina and Iceland to come after the encounter against the Super Eagles, Dalic reckoned it is important to pick maximum points against the three-time African champions.
“The first goal must be to qualify from the group. The first match against Nigeria will decide that, it is the key to everything for us in Russia,” Dalic stated during a lecture at the Split Hotel Duilovo in Zagreb on Tuesday.
“Then against Argentina we cannot look for much. It will be easiest game for us because we have nothing to lose.
“The last game is against Iceland where everything will be decided.”
Dalic further stated that his team will be ready to take on the rest of the world in Russia.
“There is four months before the World Cup, there is still time, everything will be ready. We are monitoring all the players,” he added.
