World Cup 2022: Kramaric puts Croatians on course – Canada out despite Davies’ goal

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Updated on 11/27/2022 at 7:49 p.m

  • Even an early deficit against Canada won’t upset Croatia.
  • Bundesliga star Andrej Kramaric in particular is convincing for the vice world champion.
  • Croatia was able to avert the early World Cup exit.

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Vice World Champion Croatia has secured a good starting position for the group finals thanks to double packer Andrej Kramaric. The veterans from the Balkans shook the 68-second shock through Bayern star Alphonso Davies and defeated Canadians, who were celebrating the first goal in their World Cup history, 4-1 (2-1). A draw against the eternal co-favorites Belgium on Thursday is enough for Luka Modric and Co. to secure a place in the round of 16.

Hoffenheim’s Kramaric (26′, 70′), Marko Livaja (44′) and Lovro Majer (90′ + 4′) turned the game around in front of 44,374 spectators at the Khalifa International Stadium. Canadaco-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, also lost the fifth game in its history of finals despite the bang by Davies (2nd) and, as the second team after hosts Qatar, has no chance of reaching the round of 16.


Even after the defeat against Costa Rica, the Japanese supporters stayed in the stadium and cleaned up. Pictures from the 2022 World Cup.

pre-game controversy

The game was preceded by a small controversy among the coaches. After Canada’s unfortunate opening defeat by Belgium (0-1), John Herdman had used the phrase “We’re going to f*** Croatia” when addressing his team. Vatreni coach Zlatko Dalic found out about it – and was by no means pleased: “We respect everyone, so we also expect our opponents to respect us.”

Dalic’s players, on the other hand, initially kept too much respect from the Canadians. Davies’ powerful header, which was the first goal by a Bayern player and the fastest goal so far in this World Cup, gave the Croatians a violent shock after 68 seconds.

The defeated 2018 World Cup finalist with Bundesliga professionals Kramaric, Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig and Borna Sosa (VfB Stuttgart) remained defensively vulnerable. Canada, however, acted imprecisely in the last third. That should pay off soon.

Croatia can not be disturbed

The “golden mean” of the Croatians with Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic tore the strings after a good 20 minutes. After a one-on-one action by Kramaric (26′), the ball wriggled in the net, but Livaja had previously been offside.

Everything was fine ten minutes later when Kramaric equalized, which was now deserved, after a pass from Ivan Perisic. Croatia were now clearly overweight, after Livaja’s long-range goal, the “checkered” were also on course for the result.

Canada threw everything forward after the break. Goalkeeper Milan Borjan, born in today’s Croatia, made a brilliant save in the 54th minute against the free-standing Kramaric from being two goals behind. Croatia continued to play it down patiently, and a little later Kramaric made everything clear from a more difficult position.


Belgium’s once so golden generation has lost its luster at the latest in the second preliminary round game of the World Cup – and now has to fear losing the preliminary round. The aging team around Kevin De Bruyne lost Morocco deservedly 0: 2 (0: 0), so the Red Devils also gambled away the early jump into the round of 16. Ex-Paderborn professional Sabiri scored for underdog Morocco.

teaser image: © IMAGO/Shutterstock/IMAGO/Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

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