Christian Eriksen against Luka Modric is a fight to relish plus other Denmark v Croatia key battles

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  • Croatia will look to build on the momentum earned from a perfect Group D campaign when they battle Christian Eriksen’s unbeaten Denmark in World Cup 2018’s round of 16.

    Zlatko Dalic’s men historically won all three matches, including a 3-0 humiliation of Lionel Messi and Argentina, to reinforce their status as dark horses for the title.

    This will be tested by ‘Danish Dynamite’. They proved in the competition’s only goalless draw, against France, that the Croats cannot expect a walkover at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Sunday.

    Here are the key battles:

    LUKA MODRIC V CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN

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    Real Madrid schemer Modric has a legitimate shout to be classed as the player of this World Cup.

    The refined 32-year-old struck a penalty in the opening 2-0 defeat of Nigeria and fired home a fizzed effort in the rout of Argentina.

    Knockout competition has brought out the best in him with Los Blancos and he must now do the same again with his country.

    Few players are more central to the success of their nations than Eriksen.

    The Tottenham playmaker lashed in one of the goals of the tournament against Australia, plus previously teed up Yussuf Poulsen for the winner versus Peru.

    If the current Tottenham hero can outshine the club’s previous conductor, Modric, then Denmark can hold hope of just a second-ever quarter-final berth.

    MARIO MANDZUKIC V SIMON KJAER

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    Juventus front man Mandzukic provides a handful for any centre-back in Russia, but he’s yet to trouble the scorers.

    The angular 32-year-old runs all day and fights for every ball. He’ll be disappointed that this hasn’t translated into any goals, with his profligate display against Argentina one to particularly rue.

    A pitch battle with Sevilla centre-back Simon Kjaer should be explosive.

    Denmark’s captain is the cement that holds their defence together.

    Kjaer is a seasoned campaigner, moving past the 80-cap mark in Russia. His dogged traits saw him relish the competition provided by France target man Olivier Giroud, although his average of one tackle per game is only Denmark’s joint-seventh best.

    Denmark kept clean sheets in two out of their three Group C fixtures. More of the same is a necessity.

    IVAN PERISIC V PIONE SISTO

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    Few sights in football are more feared by full-backs than Perisic receiving the ball with space to run into.

    The Internazionale winger glides across the turf at pace and is eminently capable of lashing home, as against Iceland. A return of one accurate cross from nine attempts is disappointing and should soon improve.

    Concentration will be key if Denmark right-back Henrik Dalsgaard is to shut out Perisic’s threat.

    The World Cup is yet to see the best of Celta Vigo winger Sisto.

    A return of nine assists and five goals showed his ability in La Liga last term. But in Russia, there’s been none of either and only one smart pass that sparked Poulsen’s goal against Peru.

    This talent should flicker into life at some point. His average of 3.7 dribbles per game points to the danger posed.

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