Five things we learned: Croatia vs Nigeria
Croatia don't need to hit the target to score, Nigeria need to start Kelechi Iheanacho and not every penalty has to come from VAR. Five things we learned from Croatia's victory over Nigeria.
CROATIA CAN SCORE WITHOUT EVEN HITTING THE TARGET
With such attacking talents in the team as Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic, it's to be expected that Croatia will bring plenty of goal threat into the World Cup.
It didn't exactly prove that way though; much of their play was laboured in the build-up, despite being comfortably the better team, and the end product was largely lacking.
Indeed, Croatia were two goals up without even hitting a single shot on target from open play.
An own goal, deflected in by Oghenekaro Etebo when the original glanced header was certainly on its way wide of the post, and a penalty from Luka Modric, did the damage for Croatia.
Forwards Mandzukic, Ante Rebic and Andrej Kramaric had six shots between them, but none forced a save out of Francis Uzoho.
NIGERIA NEED TO CHANGE OFFENSIVE OPTIONS
In age terms, Odion Ighalo is Nigeria's most experienced striker - but the 29-year-old is still a relative novice on the international stage, and certainly didn't offer much to suggest he should be kept faith with for the second group game.
Along with the ineffective Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses, Nigeria offered very little threat or penetration for much of the match.
They looked somewhat more impressive once Kelechi Iheanacho had entered as substitute, with more movement and energy on show, and the Super Eagles should perhaps consider starting him next time out.
A DAY OF PENALTIES BUT NO VAR REQUIRED
Four games took place at the World Cup across Saturday - and each had at least one penalty.
Where Croatia's differed to several of the earlier incidents was in that the referee spotted the infringement in real time and correctly awarded the decision himself.
Luka Modric stepped up to seal the win for Croatia from the spot.
No VAR needed this time!
NIGERIA ALREADY IN MUST-WIN TERRITORY
It feels early to be discussing must-win matches, but the World Cup group stage is so short that a single defeat can be defining.
Losing the opening fixture always makes it an uphill battle to qualify for the round of 16, and there's simply no margin for error now for Nigeria after this defeat.
Next up it's Iceland, who already have a point after drawing against Argentina, the best team in the group in most peoples' eyes.
Argentina are Nigeria's last opponents, and they cannot afford to head into that match with anything less than three points to their name if they hope to make the knock-outs.
Then again, they did shock Marcelo Bielsa's team in a friendly several months ago, so perhaps all is not quite lost.
MANDZUKIC DECISIVE DESPITE NOT BEING ON TOP FORM
He might not have scored or even troubled the goalkeeper, but striker Mandzukic still played an important role for Croatia.
The 32-year-old was involved in both goals for his nation, firstly troubling the Nigeria defence off a corner and helping divert the ball toward goal, before it was deflected in by Etebo.
In the second half, it was Mandzukic who was grappled in the box, winning a penalty for Croatia to wrap up the victory.
More will be needed from him in future matches in terms of being a goal threat, but he certainly contributed to his team's victory in Kaliningrad.