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

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Alphonso DaviesCanada had gone four World Cup games without scoring before Alphonso Davies' goal

Alphonso Davies scored Canada's first ever World Cup goal, but it was not enough to stop them being knocked out of the tournament following a defeat by Croatia.

Bayern Munich winger Davies' second-minute opener gave Canada hope, but they ended up second best and have suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two group matches.

In Group F's earlier game, Morocco shocked world number two side Belgium 2-0 and are second in the standings, behind 2018 finalists Croatia.

John Herdman's outsiders scored from the game's first attack after only 67 seconds courtesy of a towering header from Davies, who darted into the box and powerfully converted from Tajon Buchanan's cross.

Croatia, though, did not panic after falling behind and created numerous chances, with striker Andrej Kramaric seeing a goal ruled out for offside.

But the former Leicester player then equalised with a first-time angled shot from Ivan Perisic's pass, and Marko Livaja put them 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 Herdman said before the game they would "eff Croatia", with opposition manager Zlatko Dalic responding by saying it 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 the 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 ran out comfortable winners.

They have now lost just once in their last 18 outings, and must face Belgium on Thursday to secure a spot in second round.

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Croatia

  1. Squad number1Player nameLivakovic

  2. Squad number22Player nameJuranovic

  3. Squad number6Player nameLovren

  4. Squad number20Player nameGvardiol

  5. Squad number19Player nameSosa

  6. Squad number10Player nameModric

  7. Squad number11Player nameBrozovic

  8. Squad number8Player nameKovacic

  9. Squad number9Player nameKramaric

  10. Squad number14Player nameLivaja

  11. Squad number4Player namePerisic

  1. Squad number7Player nameMajer

  2. Squad number13Player nameVlasic

  3. Squad number15Player namePasalic

  4. Squad number16Player namePetkovic

  5. Squad number18Player nameOrsic

Canada

  1. Squad number18Player nameBorjan

  2. Squad number2Player nameJohnston

  3. Squad number5Player nameVitória

  4. Squad number4Player nameMiller

  5. Squad number22Player nameLaryea

  6. Squad number11Player nameBuchanan

  7. Squad number13Player nameHutchinson

  8. Squad number7Player nameEustáquio

  9. Squad number19Player nameDavies

  10. Squad number20Player nameDavid

  11. Squad number17Player nameLarin

  1. Squad number3Player nameAdekugbe

  2. Squad number9Player nameCavallini

  3. Squad number10Player nameHoilett

  4. Squad number15Player nameKoné

  5. Squad number21Player nameOsorio

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

  1. Match ends, Croatia 4, Canada 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Croatia 4, Canada 1.

  3. Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Kamal Miller.

  4. Junior Hoilett (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Foul by Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia).

  6. 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.

  7. Attempt missed. Junior Hoilett (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

  8. Attempt blocked. Junior Hoilett (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  9. Steven Vitória (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Foul by Lovro Majer (Croatia).

  11. Foul by Steven Vitória (Canada).

  12. Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Attempt saved. Mislav Orsic (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Petkovic.

  14. Substitution, Croatia. Lovro Majer replaces Mateo Kovacic.

  15. Substitution, Croatia. Mario Pasalic replaces Luka Modric.

  16. Substitution, Croatia. Mislav Orsic replaces Ivan Perisic.

  17. Junior Hoilett (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Foul by Marcelo Brozovic (Croatia).

  19. Kamal Miller (Canada) is shown the yellow card.

  20. Luka Modric (Croatia) is shown the yellow card.

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