Having disappointed in their 0-0 stalemate against Morocco in the first group match, producing just six shots in total, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić urged his side to show more ‘courage’ in their second outing of the tournament. Canada, on the other hand, were left rueing their missed chances as they went down 1-0 to Belgium, against the run of play.
Inspired by their performance in the last game, Canada wasted no time in scoring their first ever World Cup goal. With just over one minute on the clock, Tajon Buchanan’s looping cross from deep was met by an arriving Alphonso Davies, whose thumping header had Dominik Livaković clutching at thin air. Having scored the earliest goal at the tournament so far, Canada sought to continue in the same vein, but the Vatreni were given reward for their increasingly dynamic attacking play ten minutes before half time.
First Ivan Perišić slid through a superb reverse pass to Andrej Kramarić, who turned his body and found the far corner from a tight angle. Zlatko Dalić’s side then took the lead just eight minutes later – a direct run by Josip Juranović put Marko Livaja in some space on the edge of the box, and the current Croatian League top scorer fired hard and low to Milan Borjan’s right.
John Herdman will no doubt have instructed his players to respond in the second half, and substitute Jonathan Osorio went agonisingly close with a bending effort. The goalkeepers of the two sides traded fine saves, denying strikes from both Kramarić and Jonathan David. Perišić and Kramarić once again combined to put the match, and Canada’s fate, beyond doubt, the Hoffenheim striker excellently brought down his teammate’s cross and placed it into the corner of the net.
There was time for Croatia to further extend their lead in stoppage-time as Mislav Oršić capitalised on a mistake by Kamal Miller, and squared the ball to Lovro Majer for a simple finish.
The win extends Croatia’s unbeaten streak to eight matches in all competitions, and they will only need to draw with Belgium for last 16 qualification, whilst Canada bow out of the tournament with a game remaining. The Maple Leafs will go into their matchup with Morocco still looking for their first ever World Cup point, having lost all three group games at Mexico 1986.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ivan Perišić (Croatia)
