Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Influential Italy captain Paolo Maldini remained on course to equal a World Cup record after overcoming an injury scare.

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.

Mexico left 10-man Croatia with it all to do to get out of Group G as Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s second-half penalty sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the France 98 semi-finalists in their opening World Cup match in Niigata.