Croatia trembles, then triumphs: 4-1 to Canada

A crucial comeback victory to take the top spot in the round.

Croatia trembled against Canada, but after nearly a half of great suffering snatched a success with enormous weight toward winning the round of 16 at Qatar 2022. In fact, the vice-world champions win 4-1 after even finding themselves in a disadvantage. More importantly, by virtue of Belgium’s unexpected knockout against Morocco, they now top the standings in Group F. The points are the same as the North Africans, but goal difference currently rewards Dalic’s selection.

The match, as mentioned, seemed to start in the worst way for Croatia right away: already in the 2nd minute Canada took the lead thanks to a splendid play ended by Buchanan’s assist and Alphonso Davies’ winning shot. Croatia seemed initially stunned, and the expected reaction was slow to show itself. It was only around the half-hour mark that the game began to change, so much so that Kramaric found the way to the goal without, however, the equalizer being validated: Livaja was offside.

In the 36th minute the music changed, when the two former Inter players Kovacic and Perisic dialogued forward and rewarded the insertion of Kramaric himself, who equalized. That’s not all, because already in the 44th minute comes the overtake: Juranovic drives Canada’s defense crazy, then Livaja pounces on the ball to put Croatia ahead. At the beginning of the second half Osorio tries for a flash equalizer, but Livakovic is there. Then the usual Kramaric on one side and David on the other tried, but the end was all of the Croatian brand: in the 70th minute Kramaric tripled, with a splendid personal action and an impregnable left, in the middle of the recovery Majer closed the accounts.