World Cup 2022: Croatia 4-1 Canada – Andrej Kramaric scores twice to send Canada out

Alphonso Davies
Canada had gone four World Cup games without scoring before Alphonso Davies’ goal

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 67 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.

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 second round.

Meanwhile, Canada may have scored a goal but they are still waiting for their first point in a World Cup group match, and cannot qualify for the next round even if they get a result in their final game against Morocco.

Player of the match

DaviesAlphonso Davies

Croatia

  1. Squad number8Player nameKovacic

  2. Squad number9Player nameKramaric

  3. Squad number4Player namePerisic

  4. Squad number7Player nameMajer

  5. Squad number10Player nameModric

  6. Squad number18Player nameOrsic

  7. Squad number13Player nameVlasic

  8. Squad number22Player nameJuranovic

  9. Squad number15Player namePasalic

  10. Squad number14Player nameLivaja

  11. Squad number20Player nameGvardiol

  12. Squad number11Player nameBrozovic

  13. Squad number19Player nameSosa

  14. Squad number16Player namePetkovic

  15. Squad number6Player nameLovren

  16. Squad number1Player nameLivakovic

Canada

  1. Squad number19Player nameDavies

  2. Squad number11Player nameBuchanan

  3. Squad number17Player nameLarin

  4. Squad number20Player nameDavid

  5. Squad number7Player nameEustáquio

  6. Squad number13Player nameHutchinson

  7. Squad number22Player nameLaryea

  8. Squad number2Player nameJohnston

  9. Squad number9Player nameCavallini

  10. Squad number21Player nameOsorio

  11. Squad number15Player nameKoné

  12. Squad number10Player nameHoilett

  13. Squad number18Player nameBorjan

  14. Squad number3Player nameAdekugbe

  15. Squad number4Player nameMiller

  16. Squad number5Player nameVitória

Line-ups

Croatia

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Livakovic
  • 22Juranovic
  • 6LovrenBooked at 56mins
  • 20Gvardiol
  • 19Sosa
  • 10ModricBooked at 85minsSubstituted forPasalicat 86′minutes
  • 11Brozovic
  • 8KovacicSubstituted forMajerat 86′minutes
  • 9KramaricSubstituted forVlasicat 73′minutes
  • 14LivajaSubstituted forPetkovicat 60′minutes
  • 4PerisicSubstituted forOrsicat 86′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Stanisic
  • 3Barisic
  • 5Erlic
  • 7Majer
  • 12Grbic
  • 13Vlasic
  • 15Pasalic
  • 16Petkovic
  • 17Budimir
  • 18Orsic
  • 23Ivusic
  • 24Sutalo
  • 25Sucic
  • 26Jakic

Canada

Formation 4-4-2

  • 18Borjan
  • 2Johnston
  • 5Vitória
  • 4MillerBooked at 85mins
  • 22LaryeaSubstituted forHoilettat 62′minutes
  • 11BuchananBooked at 52mins
  • 13HutchinsonSubstituted forAdekugbeat 73′minutes
  • 7EustáquioSubstituted forKonéat 45′minutes
  • 19Davies
  • 20DavidSubstituted forCavalliniat 72′minutes
  • 17LarinSubstituted forOsorioat 45′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1St. Clair
  • 3Adekugbe
  • 6Piette
  • 8Fraser
  • 9Cavallini
  • 10Hoilett
  • 12Ugbo
  • 14Kaye
  • 15Koné
  • 16Pantemis
  • 21Osorio
  • 23Millar
  • 24Wotherspoon
  • 25Cornelius
  • 26Waterman

Referee:
Andrés Matonte

Attendance:
44,374

Live Text

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