Current runner-up, Croatia, finally, disenchanted in the World Cup in Qatar. This Sunday (27), the Eastern European team thrashed Canada 4-1, at the Khalifa International Stadium, in Doha, in Group F.
The triumph took the Croatians to the same four points as Morocco, with whom they tied in the debut, by 0 to 0, ahead of the Africans in goal difference (three to one), at the top of the group. The North Americans, zeroed, go to the last match with no chance of reaching the round of 16. In the first round, they were beaten by Belgium, 1-0.
This feels good.#vatreni, congratulations! ?? #CROCAN #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #Family #Croatia?? pic.twitter.com/kNgcEeVGHM
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 27, 2022
Despite the Canadian stumble, Alphonso Davies made history. The son of Liberian parents and born in a refugee camp in Ghana, he arrived in Canada at the age of five. It was up to the 22-year-old Bayern Munich (Germany) winger to score the team’s first goal in a men’s World Cup.
The games of the last round of Group F are scheduled for Thursday (1st), at 12h (Brasília time). Croatia will have a direct confrontation for the classification with Belgium, in the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, in Al Rayyan. Canada will meet Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
Lightning goal does not secure result
The coaches went to the field with only one change each in relation to the debut. In Croatia, Zlatko Dalic selected striker Marko Livaja in place of midfielder Nikola Vlasic. On the Canadian side, John Herdman made a similar switch, giving up a midfielder (Junior Hoillet) to reinforce the attack with Cyle Larin.
A HISTORICAL moment for Canada: their first World Cup goal! ??
It had to be him: Alphonso Davies! ?? pic.twitter.com/V67XypWYIJ
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 27, 2022
With the ball rolling, Canada needed 67 seconds to make history. Striker Tajon Buchanan advanced down the right and crossed Davies’ head, who sent it into the net, scoring the fastest goal of the Qatar Cup so far. The Americans tried to stay in the attack, repeating what they did against the Belgians, but Croatia recovered from the initial setback and made the most of their quality to occupy the Canadian field.
If the insistence on the aerial ball didn’t work, the change of strategy for the foot touch on foot proved to be efficient for the Croats. The goal annulled by Andrej Kramaric, due to offside, in the 25th minute, after Livaja’s launch, was an indication of the Europeans’ improvement. Ten minutes later, fellow striker Ivan Perisic received it in the area and stretched out to Kramaric, who appeared on the left and crossed the ball to tie the match. The turning point was a matter of time. At 43, full-back Josip Juranovic found Livaja in the half moon. The number 14 dominated and kicked low, in the corner of goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
Kramaric’s equalizing goal, which started Croatia’s reaction in the game! ??
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 27, 2022
Kramaric and Perisic command rout
Canada came back from the break wanting to repeat the pressure from the beginning of the first half. At three minutes, midfielder Jonathan Osorio cleared the marking at the entrance to the area and hit at mid-height, close to the right crossbar. At ten, striker Jonathan David received from Buchanan almost at half moon and kicked right, forcing goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic to stretch and deflect the ball over the crossbar.
This time, however, Croatia did not back down and responded quickly. At eight minutes, midfielder Luka Modric dominated on the right and crossed low for Kramaric to finish almost at the penalty mark, stopping at Borjan. At 24, Kramaric did not forgive. He received from Perisic on the left, dribbled defender Kamal Miller in the area and sent the goalkeeper in the corner, making the third for the Croatians.
A deadly counterattack for Croatia’s FOURTH goal of the game! ??
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_pt) November 27, 2022
Needing at least a draw to reach the last round with some chance of qualifying, Canada launched ahead, giving spaces – mainly on the sides – to European counterattacks. In one of them, at the 32nd minute, Perisic invaded the area from the left and finished cross, for defense with Borjan’s feet. In the spare, midfielder Mateo Kovacic rolled for midfielder Marcelo Brozovic to finish, stopping again at the goalkeeper
With the duel under control, Zlatko Dalic took the opportunity to rest three of the main starters (Modric, Kovacic and Perisic), thinking about the decision against Belgium. Even so, Croatia reached the fourth goal, precisely with two of the athletes who went to the field in the final stretch. In stoppage time, striker Mislav Orsic took advantage of an error by Miller, ran towards the goal on the left and rolled, as Borjan left, for midfielder Lovro Majer to give final numbers to the match.
* Article updated at 8:03 pm to correct the subtitle: with this Sunday’s triumph (27) Croatia took the lead in Group F.
