Croatia vs Canada 4-1: World Cup 2022 – as it happened

We’re finishing up on this game but our coverage continues over what may be the game of the opening stages as Germany fights to stay in the World Cup against Spain. Don’t take your eyes off this one.

Goodbye and Godspeed.

This feels good.#Vatreni, congratulations! 👏👏👏👏 #CROCAN #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 #Family #Croatia❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/kNgcEeVGHM

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) November 27, 2022

The Canadian keeper faced 10 shots on target compared to the two aimed at his counterpart Josip Juranović’s goal, and did well not to concede more even if a few of them were aimed directly at him. A double save with his feet around the 80-minute mark particularly stood out, but he wasn’t helped by some questionable defending from his teammates.

Just see Croatia being referred to as “dark horses” after that thumping they gave Canada. Not sure if that term applies when you reached the final of this competition the last time you played in it and still have the same core of players to select from.

The scoreline feels harsh on Canada, but they were well and truly schooled by a much more experienced Croatia side. The young pretenders have some way to go on this evidence, but brighter days lie ahead for them.

Croatia cut them to pieces too often, and have announced themselves in this World Cup after a relatively disappointing opener against Morocco.

Lovro Majer adds the sauce after coming on just moments before. A big mistake from Kamal Miller at the back let the Croats in, and they were never going to miss after being two-on-one with the goalkeeper.

94 mins: Croatia 4-1 Canada

A late twist looks unlikely, but perhaps Canada could add a consolation goal here? They certainly have the time.

91 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovacić and Ivan Perišić all leave the field of play, with Lovro Majer, Mario Pašalić and Mislav Oršić all introduced. Just a case of saving some legs for the Belgium match now.

89 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

There hasn’t been much of a response to that third Croat goal and you feel their race is run at this point. Croatia’s game with Belgium on Thursday is looking very tasty indeed as it’s likely one of them will be going out of this group.

Modrić and Miller both get a caution each for a bit of argy-bargy in the Canadian half.

86 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

Marcelo Brozović has a great chance after some good work by Mateo Kovacić, but he shoots straight at the feet of Milan Borjan. That’s another good stop from the keeper, who had saved an Ivan Perišić shot just moments before.

82 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

Croatia’s third goal has put them top of Group F. Canada, meanwhile, are heading out of the World Cup unless they can engineer a turnaround in the final 10 minutes.

Canada has an exciting, young team, but they’ve not been careful enough in possession in this game and they’ve paid the price. Their fans are right to be optimistic about their side, but Croatia have shown what it takes to succeed at this level.

78 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

Nikola Vlašić is on in his place. No hat trick for the forward today.

Atiba Hutchinson and Jonathan David are also replaced for Canada, with Sam Adekugbe and Lucas Cavallini brought on.

74 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

Kramarić gets his second! Perišić swings in a peach of a ball from the left, and the forward’s first touch is sublime, sending a defender the wrong way and opening up space in the penalty box. He slots it into the far corner past the helpless Borjan.

71 mins: Croatia 3-1 Canada

They need a goal or their first World Cup appearance since 1986 is going to end with an exit in the group stage. They’re co-hosting the next tournament, which guarantees participation, and have a young team so the future is bright either way.

68 mins: Croatia 2-1 Canada

Bruno Petković is on in his place. Straight swap for Croatia as coach Zlatko Dalic looks to add some fresh legs.

Canada also makes a change with Junior Hoilett on for Richie Laryea.

62 mins: Croatia 2-1 Canada

As the game enters the final 30 minutes, Croatia continue to edge the possession statistics and are threatening to extend their lead.

But Canada are pushing too and with only one goal in it at the moment, we could be in for a thrilling finish yet.

He passes it straight to Perišić, but he can’t make the most of his shot at goal. Canada get away with that one, but they are living dangerously.

The Canadians need to start protecting the ball a bit better.

60 mins: Croatia 2-1 Canada

Andrej Kramarić really should be scoring after the ball is cut back to him by Luka Modric and there’s no one around him in the box. His shot is too close to the Canadian keeper, who palms it away for a corner.

At the other end, Dominik Livaković produces a great save from an Alphonso Davies shot, with Dejan Lovren picking up a booking for a foul in the build-up of that move.

57 mins: Croatia 2-1 Canada