Turkey 0-1 Croatia: Luka Modric ensures his side open Euro 2016 with victory after a stunning first-half volley at the Parc des Princes

Croatia, the perennial dark horses of European football, are out of the stable and off the mark - but they did not hit top speed against Turkey in Paris.

There is talk of a golden generation in Croatian football, led by established stars like Luka Modric – the match-winner here, and it has been suggested that 2016 could be the year that these also-rans, quarter-finalists in 1996 and 2008, could even win the thing.

They like France too, having come third at the World Cup here in 1998, when Davor Suker was the tournament's top scorer, and they showed glimpses of their undoubted potential back in the French capital.

Luka Modric fired Croatia into the lead with an outstanding volley from the edge of the area shortly before half-time in Paris

Modric reacted fastest to a clearance from the penalty area and converted a brilliant first-time volley from 25 yards out

Real Madrid man Modric wheels away to lead the celebrations with his Croatia team-mates after his stunning strike against Turkey

Modric was mobbed by his team-mate after a stunning effort handed Croatia their first goal of the tournament in France

Croatia defender Darijo Srna sent a free kick crashing against the crossbar in the early exchanges of the second half

Ivan Perisic (centre) also sent a header against the crossbar as Croatia pushed for a second goal in their Group D clash

Ivan Rakitic posed for a selfie alongside matchwinner Modric and fellow Croatia team-mates Lovre Kalinic and Darijo Srna

But they did not have it all their own way against a stubborn Turkey side who battled hard but lacked any real cutting edge. 

They will take the 1-0 win but, in truth, it could have and should have been more from a match in which they hit the crossbar twice.

They have never gone beyond the quarter-finals in their history but anything less than that will be a disappointment back home, especially given they failed to make it out of the putative group of death, which included both Italy and Spain, four years ago.

But their most painful recent Euro memory came at the hands of Turkey eight years ago in one of the most extraordinary quarter-finals in European Championship history. After 119 goalless minutes, substitute Ivan Klasnic hit what seemed to be the winner for Croatia.

But with literally the last kick of the match, Semih Senturk lashed home a dramatic equaliser and the jubilant Turks beat the clearly shell-shocked Croatians 3-1 in the penalty shoot-out to book their semi-final spot.

Four of the Croatia side from that day in Vienna started here, including the captain Darijo Srna, who admitted in his pre-match press conference that he is still haunted by the memory of the defeat.

But he also declared that their squad here in France is perhaps the greatest in Croatia's football history. He might be right but they and their head coach Ante Cacic are not reinventing the wheel.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given that Mario Mandzukic, top scorer at Euro 2012, leads the line, their modus operandi was plain to see from the start: get balls in the box as quickly and often as possible.

It almost worked within two minutes when right winger Marcelo Brozovic crossed for Ivan Rakitic but his effort flashed past Mandzukic and then the post. 

Marcelo Brozovic was only a toe away from doubling the lead for Croatia but failed to convert a ball across the penalty area

Turkey introduced highly-rated youngster Emre Mor into the match in the second half but he struggled to influence proceedings

The 18-year-old Mor (left) is the third youngest player of the tournament and recently signed for Borussia Dortmund

Perisic was played through into the penalty area again in the latter stages but his opening was smothered by Babacan

Perisic produced an impressive display for Croatia on the left of midfield against Turkey during Sunday's match

Ivan Rakitic (centre) of Croatia and Barcelona had a strong game in midfield alongside Madrid man and goalscorer Modric

Ivan Perisic, menacing down the left, then almost teed up Brozovic with a dangerous cross but the 23-year-old nodded over.

Turkey were operating mainly on the counter-attack but they carved out a superb chance in the 29th minute with a cross of their own. However, when Gokhan Gonul's ball dropped between the Croatian centre-backs, Ozan Tufan could only head straight at Danijel Subasic from six yards.

They were made to pay for the miss four minutes before the break when Modric opened the scoring in stunning fashion from yet another Croatia cross.

This time, when the delivery was cleared high into the air, it fell invitingly for the former Tottenham midfielder to crash his volley past Volkan Babacan, who was deceived by the bounce of the strike.

It almost got better for Cacic's side six minutes after the restart when Srna's 20 yard free-kick beat the wall and Babacan but not the crossbar.

Then the skipper really should have made it two when Perisic's cross was pushed straight out to him by the keeper, only for him to drag his left-footed effort wide.

Brozovic was next to go close, controlling the ball brilliantly on his chest but he hammered his volley a yard over. He then failed in his efforts to slide Perisic's fizzing, low cross home from close range.

Vedran Corluka of Croatia went down holding his head after getting caught by Turkey's Cenk Tosun in the first half in Paris

Croatia defender Corluka had blood streaming down his face but Tosun was not punished by referee Jonas Eriksson

Former Tottenham defender Corluka was able to continue for Croatia but had to have his head bandaged 

The 30-year-old Corluka needed further treatment during the second half against Turkey when the wound reopened  

Turkish fans were in fine voice ahead of their opening Euro 2016 encounter against Croatia in the Parc des Princes

Croatia were also backed by vociferous support as a thunderous atmosphere was created at the Parc des Princes

Turkey manager Fatih Terim responded by introducing fresh impetus in attack with Burak Yilmaz replacing the ineffective captain Arda Turan while there was also a major tournament debut for wonderkid Emre Mor, who signed for Borussia Dortmund from Nordsjaelland last week.

Yet it was Croatia who went closest to scoring a second time when another cross nearly paid off, but Perisic's glancing header bounced back off the crossbar. Babacan then had to stretch to claw Brozovic's header over the top.

Croatia had to make do with one but it was enough to secure the required winning start with Both Spain and Czech Republic are still to come in Group D.