Canada 1-4 Croatia: Herdman’s bold calls backfire – but Davies makes history

Canada’s adventure is over. A 4-1 defeat to Croatia means they cannot progress to the last 16 of their first World Cup since 1986, but they bowed out as they have played throughout the tournament — refusing to take a backward step.

We analyse the key moments of the Group F tie.

Herdman’s gambles fail

Manager John Herdman helped Canada reach the World Cup for the first time in 36 years with a blend of bold tactics and bolder words. During qualifying, he pushed just about every button to perfection.

In Qatar, he may have gone a little bit too far.

Minutes after a thrilling opening match in which his team missed a penalty kick and squandered numerous chances before ultimately losing 1-0 to Belgium, Herdman grabbed a television microphone and told the world that Canada was “going to go and ‘F’ Croatia” on Sunday. 

The comment riled the Croatian team, which drew 0-0 against Morocco in their opener on Wednesday. The runners-up at the 2018 World Cup, most of Croatia’s top players are a bit past their prime, but they’re still talented. They’re certainly not a team that anyone should be giving any extra motivation to, especially not a side figuring out its way through its first World Cup in nearly four decades like Canada.

Of course, the confrontational comment wasn’t the only bold move Herdman made for Sunday’s game. He also chose to start 39-year-old Atiba Hutchinson as part of a two-man central midfield in Canada’s flat 4-4-2. Herdman did this despite the fact that Hutchinson, who earned his 100th cap on Sunday, started and played nearly an hour against Belgium just a few days before.

Both decisions backfired dramatically. Though Canada took a dramatic lead through Alphonso Davies just 68 seconds into the match, Croatia responded ruthlessly to cruise to a 4-1 win that eliminated Canada from contention for the knockout rounds. 

Hutchinson, who couldn’t physically keep up with Croatia’s midfield for almost the entire game, was at least partly culpable in all three goals he was on the field for, the first of which several Croatian reserves celebrated by running through their technical area and toward Herdman on the Canada bench.

Hutchinson completely lost Andrej Kramaric in the box on the first goal, leaving him wide open to slot home an Ivan Perisic pass from just six yards out. The Canada captain couldn’t close down marauding right-back Josip Juranovic for the second, allowing him to drive forward almost into the penalty area before he found striker Marko Livaja for a fine finish. On the third, Hutchinson lost Kramaric again, attempting to pass him off to Kamal Miller, who failed to pick him up, before the striker slotted home for his second goal of the night. 

It was difficult to watch an all-time Canada legend struggle so badly on such a big stage, one that his manager probably shouldn’t have put him on to begin with.

Sam Stejskal

Davies earns his place in history

Throughout his first week in his first World Cup, the face of Canada’s men’s national team and arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport in the country didn’t address the media, including after he had his penalty saved against Belgium in their World Cup opener, instead walking through the mixed zone surrounded by multiple team-mates, protecting him from the questions of nearby reporters.

It was worth wondering, if only for a moment: would Davies be able to recover from the missed penalty and lead Canada as he has to?

That moment did not last long.

Davies was behind three Canadian players when he began a run just inside Croatia’s half in the second minute. On the left side of the pitch, Tajon Buchanan used the moment of space he was afforded, looked up and saw Davies had made up a ton of ground. When Buchanan sent in his cross, Davies cut inside Croatian defender Josip Juranovic, leapt into the air and planted an authoritative header past Dominik Livakovic.

The result may have been ugly by the end, but questions about Davies will linger no longer. By scoring Canada’s first World Cup goal, he took his rightful place in Canadian sports history.

Joshua Kloke

Croatia manage their golden oldies

With 319 caps and 95 years between them, Croatia’s midfield is well-versed in the attritional elements of the international game. A large part of their success has been forged upon their ball-retention qualities, grinding down opposition teams solely through possession and having players who make the ball do the work. This was a key part of their success against Canada, too. 

But it does mean they are vulnerable in transition. Against a pacy, explosive Canadian side, Croatia’s reverse gears were found wanting early on. Inside the second minute and in the build-up to Davies’ goal, Canada’s focal point Cyle Larin was able to control a high ball on the halfway line, having dropped off Croatia’s centre-backs. The time and space he was afforded, almost immediately, highlighted how vulnerable Croatia can be when the spaces are large and turnovers are aplenty, irrespective of how early or late in the game it is. 

Croatia struggled to match Morocco’s physicality in their first game in Qatar and the same looked to be transpiring here before Canada dropped deeper and were understandably unsure of how to play with a lead in hand.

While Mateo Kovacic found success by isolating Hutchinson one-v-one, Croatia seem to accept and overcome the weaknesses that age brings. In turn, they depend even more on their main attributes (which revolve around their midfield three, naturally). This brought a level of control that remained throughout the second half. 

Jacob Tanswell

Buchanan makes a big impression

Canada started at breakneck speed but it wasn’t just the blistering pace of Davies that had Croatia gasping for air. The man who assisted him, Buchanan, had a tremendous opening half an hour and the interest from clubs in Europe’s biggest leagues must be growing. 

Having won a move to a Champions League-level side in Club Bruges, he moved to New England Revolution last year on loan. An injury did not help his development early this season but he gradually worked his way into the side and looked very comfortable in his surroundings on the right flank on Sunday.

His inch-perfect assist was his standout moment but his drive and athleticism were there for all to see in the first half and very much encapsulated everything that has been exciting about Canada, despite their two defeats. 

Buchanan’s influence faded as Canada dropped back and Croatia started to take over but his industry tracking back was impressive, too: he was able to prevent Ivan Perisic on the break on one occasion and then danced with it at his feet rather than clearing it.

In the second half, he showed that he has an over-zealous streak when he was booked for a rash foul. He also made the wrong decision in the final third a couple of times but this was another impressive all-round performance to follow up on his outstanding showing against Belgium. 

Jordan Campbell

Kramaric’s move pays off

Ante Rebic isn’t here at the World Cup after his public comments about Zlatko Dalic, where he accused the Croatia manager of not “making use of this talented generation”.

It was a bold criticism given Croatia reached the World Cup final four years ago but the question being asked of Dalic coming into this tournament was whether he could offer freedom within a strong tactical framework.

They looked blunt in attack for much of the opening game against Morocco as the front three failed to get into the game. Nikola Vlasic had the best chance of the game but he came off injured at half-time and the debate about who plays on the right wing was thrown into question again. 

Using Rebic, a wide forward, isn’t an option, but Dalic opted to shift Kramaric out to the right and bring Hajduk Split striker Marko Livaja into the side. It may have provided Dalic with the answer moving forward as the pair scored three goals between them.

Croatia suddenly had a ruthless streak that meant they looked like they were going to score every time they went forward late into the first half. 

Kramaric’s touch and finish from Borna Sosa’s cross showed his composure and his first, peeling off a defender and striking across goal, was the finish of a man whose confidence in front of goal has grown since moving to Hoffenheim in 2016 following a difficult spell at Leicester City.

Jordan Campbell

Canada were fun… and they’ll be back

You were great fun, Canada. For arrogant Europeans (like me) who did not know much about you, we enjoyed what we saw and do not worry, we do not put you in the same group as Qatar as the two countries who went out first. Your attacking verve and insistence on every one of your attacking players wanting to run as fast as they can for as long as they can… it was enthralling. 

You should have beaten Belgium and Davies’ glorious goal was one of the moments of the tournament so far. Your coach is as honest as they come, bombastic and unafraid to speak his mind. That is mirrored in his players, who have done many good and bad things in the two games but have never been boring.

Of course, his “F-up” comment will be clipped and mocked for days, but it spoke of a team entirely innocent and full of the knowledge that they are more than able to compete at a World Cup. So I hope you are enjoying the experience of this World Cup — you’re going to see a lot more of them.

Jacob Tanswell

(Top photo: Youssef Loulidi/Fantasista/Getty Images)