Croatia crushed any hopes Canada had of progressing in Qatar, with the 2018 finalists fighting back after Alphonso Davies got his country off to a flying start by scoring their first ever World Cup goal.
Bayern Munich winger Davies put Canada ahead after only 68 seconds, darting into the box and meeting Tajon Buchanan’s cross with a towering header in the game’s first attack.
Croatia did not panic after falling behind, though, and created numerous chances, with striker Andrej Kramaric seeing a goal ruled out for offside.
The former Leicester player did equalise when he found the net with a first-time angled shot from Ivan Perisic’s pass, and Marko Livaja put Croatia ahead with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.
Kramaric was denied by Milan Borjan’s fine save in the second half, and at the other end, Dominik Livakovic acrobatically tipped over Jonathan David’s long-range curler.
Hoffenheim frontman Kramaric got his second of the game by coolly converting into the far corner, and substitute Lovro Majer wrapped up the match by netting in injury time.
Canada may have scored a goal, but they are still waiting for their first point in a World Cup group match and now cannot qualify for the last 16.
Croatia keep their cool
You might have expected the first meeting between Croatia and Canada to be a straightforward affair – in fact it was anything but, with a war of words taking place beforehand.
Canada’s English boss John Herdman said before the game they would “eff Croatia”, with opposition manager Zlatko Dalic responding by saying that was not a “sign of respect”.
Once on the pitch, Canada looked to stick to their word by scoring inside just two minutes courtesy of star winger Davies’ tremendous header.
It was a wonderful moment for the 22-year-old to net his country’s first World Cup goal, having been born in a refugee camp after his parents fled civil war in Liberia and moved to Canada when he was five.
But the joy and exuberance of youth turned to despair against a wily Croatia who have vast experience and kept their cool to hit back.
They put a ragged Canada backline under pressure, and Kramaric’s leveller and Livaja’s lovely strike on the stroke of half-time turned the game around.
Jonathan Osorio struck inches wide shortly after coming on as a second-half substitute as Canada – who are playing in their first World Cup since 1986 – looked to find a way back into the game.
But Kramaric struck again from a second Perisic assist, gloriously taking down the cross and stroking in, before Majer punished Kamal Miller’s horrible mistake as Croatia ended up comfortable winners.
They have now lost just once in their last 18 outings, and must face world number two side Belgium on Thursday to secure a spot in the next round.
Player of the match
DaviesAlphonso Davies
Croatia
Squad number8Player nameKovacic
Squad number9Player nameKramaric
Squad number4Player namePerisic
Squad number7Player nameMajer
Squad number10Player nameModric
Squad number18Player nameOrsic
Squad number13Player nameVlasic
Squad number22Player nameJuranovic
Squad number15Player namePasalic
Squad number14Player nameLivaja
Squad number20Player nameGvardiol
Squad number11Player nameBrozovic
Squad number19Player nameSosa
Squad number16Player namePetkovic
Squad number6Player nameLovren
Squad number1Player nameLivakovic
Canada
Squad number19Player nameDavies
Squad number11Player nameBuchanan
Squad number17Player nameLarin
Squad number20Player nameDavid
Squad number7Player nameEustáquio
Squad number13Player nameHutchinson
Squad number22Player nameLaryea
Squad number2Player nameJohnston
Squad number9Player nameCavallini
Squad number21Player nameOsorio
Squad number15Player nameKoné
Squad number10Player nameHoilett
Squad number18Player nameBorjan
Squad number3Player nameAdekugbe
Squad number4Player nameMiller
Squad number5Player nameVitória
Line-ups
Croatia
Formation 4-3-3
1Livakovic
22Juranovic6Lovren20Gvardiol19Sosa
10Modric11Brozovic8Kovacic
9Kramaric14Livaja4Perisic
1Livakovic22Juranovic6LovrenBooked at 56mins20Gvardiol19Sosa10ModricBooked at 85minsSubstituted forPasalicat 86’minutes11Brozovic8KovacicSubstituted forMajerat 86’minutes9KramaricSubstituted forVlasicat 73’minutes14LivajaSubstituted forPetkovicat 60’minutes4PerisicSubstituted forOrsicat 86’minutesSubstitutes2Stanisic3Barisic5Erlic7Majer12Grbic13Vlasic15Pasalic16Petkovic17Budimir18Orsic23Ivusic24Sutalo25Sucic26Jakic
Canada
Formation 4-4-2
18Borjan
2Johnston5Vitória4Miller22Laryea
11Buchanan13Hutchinson7Eustáquio19Davies
20David17Larin
18Borjan2Johnston5Vitória4MillerBooked at 85mins22LaryeaSubstituted forHoilettat 62’minutes11BuchananBooked at 52mins13HutchinsonSubstituted forAdekugbeat 73’minutes7EustáquioSubstituted forKonéat 45’minutes19Davies20DavidSubstituted forCavalliniat 72’minutes17LarinSubstituted forOsorioat 45’minutesSubstitutes1St. Clair3Adekugbe6Piette8Fraser9Cavallini10Hoilett12Ugbo14Kaye15Koné16Pantemis21Osorio23Millar24Wotherspoon25Cornelius26Waterman
Referee:Andrés Matonte
Attendance:44,374
Live Text
Match ends, Croatia 4, Canada 1.
Second Half ends, Croatia 4, Canada 1.
Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Kamal Miller.
Junior Hoilett (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia).
Goal! Croatia 4, Canada 1. Lovro Majer (Croatia) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Mislav Orsic following a fast break.
Attempt missed. Junior Hoilett (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Junior Hoilett (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Steven Vitória (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lovro Majer (Croatia).
Foul by Steven Vitória (Canada).
Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Mislav Orsic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Petkovic.
Substitution, Croatia. Mario Pasalic replaces Luka Modric.
Substitution, Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Mateo Kovacic.
Substitution, Croatia. Mislav Orsic replaces Ivan Perisic.
Junior Hoilett (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia).
Luka Modric (Croatia) is shown the yellow card.
Kamal Miller (Canada) is shown the yellow card.
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