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Croatia vs Canada Preview – team news, how to watch & potential line-ups

Croatia’s quest for a top-two finish in the 2022 World Cup Group F faces a potentially decisive task as they take on Canada on Sunday at 4.00 pm.

Zlatko Dalic’s team failed to shine in their tournament opener, being held to a dismal 0-0 draw by Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium in a match featuring just four attempts on target.

Despite the Blazers’ frustrating performance, Real Madrid stalwart Luka Modric put on another classy display, pulling all the strings in the engine room with vision and masterclass passing.

But if Croatia are to prove their memorable run to the 2018 World Cup showpiece wasn’t just a fluke, they’ll need to give the veteran playmaker adequate support in the front third.

TSG Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric and West Ham United loanee Nikola Vlasic were nowhere to be seen in Al Khor on Wednesday, which could force Dalic to reshuffle the pack against Canada.

It’s like someone has spelt some sort of voodoo magic on Les Rouges, who, despite bullying Belgium through and through, found themselves on the receiving end of a 1-0 scoreline in Al Rayyan.

Not even 22 attempts on goal, including Alphonso Davies’ miss from the spot, were enough for the Canadians to get off the mark in their fourth World Cup outing.

Match Preview

Croatia


The fact Croatia attempted their lowest-ever number of shots in a single World Cup match (five) against Morocco last time out probably best illustrates Dalic’s concerns ahead of this encounter. 

Before drawing a blank against the North African country, the Blazers had found the back of the net in 11 successive World Cup games beforehand, suggesting it could’ve been a fluke.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Ivan Perisic, who boasts 32 international goals, may have to step up to the plate if Croatia are to avoid back-to-back scoring blanks at the World Cup for the second time in history.

Canada

Canada have already played more World Cup matches without ever getting on the scoresheet than any other nation in the competition’s history (four).

Yet they cannot be accused of a lack of trying, having attempted a total of 50 shots across those four games, highlighting the significance of finding composure in front of goal.

Of all Canada players, you’d expect talismanic Lille striker Jonathan David to provide a spark in the front third. But he failed to convert any of his seven attempts against Belgium, all of which were from inside the box.

Croatia vs Canada Head-to-Head

Croatia and Canada will trade tackles for the first time, but this won’t be the Blazers’ first rodeo against nations from the CONCACAF confederation. 

Since beating Jamaica 3-1 in their maiden World Cup outing, the Croats have lost two subsequent matches against North American rivals, each time going down to Mexico

As for Canada, each of their four World Cup games thus far has yielded defeat ‘to nil’ at the hands of European countries. So there’s a significant psychological barrier they have to deal with.

Croatia vs Canada Potential Line-ups

Croatia (4-3-3): Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Mislav Orsic, Ivan Perisic. 

Canada (5-4-1): Milan Borjan; Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller, Alphonso Davies; Tajon Buchanan, Atiba Hutchinson, Eustaquio, Cyle Larin; Jonathan David. 

Croatia vs Canada Prediction 

If Croatia’s bid to reproduce the last tournament’s phenomenal run to the final is to pick up momentum, they need to beat Canada. 

Far more experienced in this type of high-octane contest, the Blazers should have three points in the bag here any day of the week. 

Croatia 2-1 Canada

How to Watch?

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World Cup 2022 Links

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How To Watch The 2022 World Cup

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