After a stellar performance from Andrej Kramarić, Croatia have a good chance of reaching the last 16 at the World Cup. Canada has to be eliminated from the knockout round after the second defeat.

With an ultimately well-deserved 4-1 (2-1) win, the Croatians took the lead in Group F at the World Cup in Qatar on Sunday (November 27, 2022). For the North Americans, the final game against Morocco will be nothing more, as the opponent already has four points, like Croatia. But the Canadiens didn’t need to be embarrassed by their appearance at all, as in their first match.

Davis is unaffected

Initially, Canada lost 1–0 to Belgium despite having 21–10 shots on goal – among other things due to two missed penalties. He was awarded one of three possible penalties in the game, but Alphonso Davies missed.

There was little doubt about whether the incident had a lasting effect on the Bayern player or even whether it had thrown him out of his way after 68 seconds against Croatia.

Historic World Cup goal for Canada

Canada started with an ambush attack on the right, Tajon Buchanan crossed the back post where Davies entered the front. Croatia’s central defender was pathetic, Davies wasn’t even on Dejan Lovren’s radar, Josip Juranovic was close to him but denied the aerial duel – so the 22-year-old was able to claw his way into the history books with his country at the World Cup first goal on the head in

The blow continued to affect the Croatian till the 20th minute. They didn’t play offensively and had a lot of trouble defensively, especially on the flanks. The finish from Andrej Kramarić was the first action the clear favorites threatened, but Canada’s keeper Milan Borjan cleared the ball.

Kramarić has been in the limelight many times

Obviously the view was encouraging, with the Croatians racking up a significant number of strokes and immediately putting Canada in trouble. In the 26th minute, the defending runners-up were already celebrating. Kramrik held his own against three opponents after a model pass from Marko Livaja and slotted the ball past Borjan. But the passer was slightly upside down at first, the target was not recognized.

In this phase, Canada again failed to set the offensive tone, dropping midfield and pulling away. Croatia had space to combine and took advantage in the 36th minute: Marcelo Brozovic found Ivan Perisic on the left, who put the ball squarely through Kramaric. Borjan was again the second winner, but this time it was not even offside.

Hutchinson misses, Livana scores

Ironically, Atiba Hutchinson, who played in his 100th cap for Canada, left Kramrik behind at 1-1 – and the veteran also made a mistake in the 44th minute. An attempted clearance by Hutchinson fell straight at the foot of Livana, who was just short of the edge of the penalty area, but did not bother: his low shot hit the left corner for a 2–1 lead.

Canada now had to change the match plan, with coach John Herdman making two changes at the break. Jonathan Osorio, one of the two jokers, was on his feet to equalize soon after the restart, but curled his shot from 20 meters not only for goalkeeper Dominik Livkovic, but also just wide of the goal.

Borjan and Livacovich in focus

As a result, a duel again developed at eye level, with both teams quickly demanding an end after winning the ball. Kramaric took a 3-1 lead in the 54th minute after a pass from Luka Modrić, but this time he found his master in Borjan. At the other end, Livkovic had to disallow a potential equalizer against Jonathan David three minutes later.

Croatia cleared things up 20 minutes before the end of the match. Perisic flicked the ball down the left to the centre, where the excellent Kramrik took it, presented himself brilliantly again and made it 3-1 – neither the crosser nor the goal scorer being judged by the much passive Canadians. Was really upset. After that, Canadian resistance was largely broken. In overtime, Lovro Major scored on a rebound to make it 4–1.

a draw is sure enough

In the final clash with Belgium on Thursday (December 1, 2022), a draw is enough for Croatia to progress to the round of 16. Theoretically, Ante Budimir’s team could go through with a loss, but then Canada would have to win against Morocco in the parallel game.

Source: sportschau.de