L. Majer has scored a goal for Croatia! Assist by M. Oršić.
CROATIA HAVE A FOURTH! 4-1! Miller’s mistake as the last man back allows two Croatia forwards to storm through, with Orsic picking up possession and bursting into the penalty area before squaring it to Majer for the easy finish!
Orsic’s unselfish play earns him an assist - setting up Majer for Croatia’s fourth.
90' +3
Adekugbe sends a dangerous cross to the far post for Buchanan, who nods it down for a team-mate only for Lovren to sweep it away.
90' +1
The referee indicates six minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
89'
Orsic receives a pass from the left wing in a central position and looks to test Borjan but the goalkeeper stoops low to make the save.
86'
M. Oršić enters the game and replaces I. Perišić.
L. Majer enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
M. Pašalić enters the game and replaces L. Modrić.
Kovacic is also withdrawn, as Majer's number is held up on the board.
Atalanta's Pasalic is sent on to replace Modric, who gets an extra bit of rest.
Perisic makes way with two assists to his name, giving Orsic a chance to see out the remainder of the game.
85'
L. Modrić gets yellow.
K. Miller gets yellow.
Miller takes exception to the tackle and engages in a bit of shoving with his opponent, which also brings a yellow card out of the referee’s pocket.
Modric takes Miller down from behind just inside Canada’s half, which earns the Real Madrid midfielder a yellow card.
83'
Hoilett evades two markers in midfield and sprays a pass out to the left wing for Osorio, who is two steps behind the pass. The ball rolls out for a throw-in to Croatia, ending Canada’s attack disappointingly.
81'
Perisic takes a speculative shot from 20 yards out but it curls the wrong side of the post, never putting Borjan under pressure.
79'
Four Croatia forwards queue up inside Canada’s penalty area to register a fourth but Perisic’s initial effort is blocked before Brozovic’s follow-up chance is saved bravely by Borjan.
Minute
Description
77'
Vlasic looks to poke Perisic through into the penalty area but he gets his inventive pass wrong and gives possession back to Vitoria.
75'
With 15 minutes left in the match Canada will need something special to earn anything, with Croatia really looking to finish the match strong. Herdman’s side have been pressing and harrying all game but as time ticks on, the legs are evidently tiring.
73'
N. Vlašić enters the game and replaces A. Kramarić.
S. Adekugbe enters the game and replaces A. Hutchinson.
Kramaric won't get another opporunity to seal the hat-trick as he's brought off for Vlasic with under 20 minutes remaining.
A change at striker sees Cavallini sent on for David.
Hutchinson comes off for Adekugbe, with Canada looking to get back in the game.
72'
L. Cavallini enters the game and replaces J. David.
Juranovic flashes a dangerous cross across the face of goal but Kramaric is unable to get enough on the ball to turn it towards Borjan, with Perisic giving away a free-kick in an effort to keep it in play on the other side.
70'
A. Kramarić has scored a goal for Croatia! Assist by I. Perišić.
KRAMARIC NETS HIS SECOND! 3-1 CROATIA! Perisic again pulls the strings from the left edge of the penalty area, teasing a beautiful cross to the far post for Kramaric. The forward takes a touch to bring himself closer to goal before firing a low shot into the bottom corner!
Perisic's second assist of the day gives Croatia a two-goal cushion with 20 minutes left.
68'
A Croatia counter-attack comes to a disappointing end after Modric’s brilliant start, carrying it on the wing and evading defenders before finding Petkovic in the middle. The substitute looks to spread play to the open man on the left but he puts it too far ahead of Kovacic and out for a Canada throw.
66'
Perisic heaves a throw-in deep towards the penalty area but Miller rises above Petkovic and clears the danger effectively.
64'
A number of tackles and substitutions have broken up the flow of the match, much to Croatia’s benefit. They’ve largely been able to dictate play and prevent counter-attacks from springing, which will be Canada’s best chance to get a second goal.
62'
J. Hoilett enters the game and replaces R. Laryea.
A change on the wing for Canada sees Hoilett on for Laryea.
60'
B. Petković enters the game and replaces M. Livaja.
Livaja makes way for Petkovic, with the striker going off to a round of applause.
58'
Canada have shown much more urgency in the second half, but Livakovic has been equal to every effort. Buchanan and David have been threatning the goal all match, with David coming more into play since the interval.
56'
D. Lovren gets yellow.
Lovren misses David with his first sliding challenge but gets up and makes sure to catch him on the second effort, with the referee watching the whole time. Before Canada's corner he pulls play back and shows the Croatia centre-back a yellow card.
54'
FANTASTIC SAVE! Kramaric is denied a second goal, hitting Modric’s square pass with a first-time effort from the penalty spot. The defence fails to react but Borjan does his job, reading the play and getting two strong hands to the ball to push it behind.
53'
A rare misplaced pass back from Modric almost puts Livakovic in trouble with Davies chasing it down but the goalkeeper manages to get there first and put his boot through it.
52'
T. Buchanan gets yellow.
A frustrated Buchanan cynically takes Gvardiol down from behind, earning a yellow card.
50'
Lovren dives into a sliding challenge but he’s late to the ball as Davies glides past the tackle, only to be dispossessed by a covering Sosa just outside the Croatia penalty area.
46'
I. Koné enters the game and replaces S. Eustáquio.
J. Osorio enters the game and replaces C. Larin.
Osorio is sent in as well, with Larin making way.
20-year old Kone comes on for Eustaquio at the interval.
Canada get the match restarted from the kick-off!
45' +5
HALF-TIME: CROATIA 2-1 CANADA.
45' +3
Kramaric receives Perisic’s square pass on the edge of the penalty area and opts to go for goal himself, taking a touch before blazing a shot high over the crossbar.
45' +1
The fourth official indicates five minutes will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.
44'
M. Livaja has scored a goal for Croatia! Assist by J. Juranović.
Juranovic makes amends for his shakey defending earlier with an assist for Croatia's second goal.
CROATIA TAKE THE LEAD! 2-1! A lovely incisive run by Juranovic gets Croatia up the pitch near Canada’s penalty area, where Miller puts in a sliding challenge. The ball bobbles and comes back to the attacking full-back, who splits the legs of the defender with a pass to Livaja. From there, the striker takes a touch to set himself before beating Borjan coolly!
42'
Eustaquio has returned to the pitch after a lengthy discussion with the medical staff, which is good news for Canada. It remains to be seen whether or not he’s just trying to make it until half-time, which could force the coach’s hand after the restart.
40'
Play is stopped for Eustaquio, who has gone down off the ball. The midfielder didn’t appear to take a knock in the earlier passage of play - which could lead to muscular worries for Herdman.
38'
Kramaric gets away from Hutchinson’s sliding tackle and sparks a counter-attack for Croatia, who are looking to double their advantage quickly but the final ball is poor, allowing Borjan to collect it calmly.
36'
A. Kramarić has scored a goal for Croatia! Assist by I. Perišić.
CROATIA PULL LEVEL! 1-1! A quick bit of passing from Dalic’s side opens up a pocket of space for Perisic on the left corner of the penalty area. He plays a smart disguised pass into the box for Kramaric, who dispatches his finish with confidence!
Perisic grabs the assist for his accurate leading pass for Kramaric.
34'
Juranovic hoists a long throw-in towards the Canada penalty area, where Perisic is able to nod it back to Kramaric. The striker is unable to fashion a cross but they are able to win another throw in a similar position to once again trouble Herdman’s side.
32'
Davies is tasked with taking a free-kick deep in Croatia’s half but Lovren is first to attack it, clearing the danger comprehensively but presenting possession back to Eustaquio.
30'
Kramaric exploits a similar space to Perisic moments earlier, high on the left wing, but a shoulder-to-shoulder charge from Buchanan wins the ball cleanly in the eyes of referee Andres Matonte.
28'
Perisic gets into a dangerous area but a powerful but fair sliding challenge from Johnston dispossesses the versatile Tottenham winger and takes him down in the process.
24'
Davies takes on and beats Kovacic in midfield with a swing of the hips, nutmegging the Chelsea player in the process before seeing his pass into the penalty area but out by a sliding Sosa.
22'
Davies is cutting a frustrated figure inside Croatia’s penalty area, with David unable to read the intentions of his team-mate and come short to receive a pass. Canada are hitting with pace and incision on the counter-attack, though their final ball has been somewhat disappointing.
20'
Eustaquio and Davies work a short-corner routine but Miller’s eventual ball into the penalty area from a central position fails to find a team-mate.
18'
Sosa gets high up the pitch and receives a pass before swinging in a cross with one motion, only for Borjan to scramble the ball away with a somewhat unconvincing punch.
16'
Larin picks up the run of Davies inside the penalty area with a lovely chip but the wing-back is unable to bring the ball under his spell as Lovren dashes across to win it back near the byline.
14'
It will take a great amount of organisation and determination if Canada wish to hold their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the game. The movement between Kovacic, Brozovic and Modric can lull an opponent to sleep before striking in an instant, which requires Hutchinson and Eustaquio to be regimented and coordinated.
12'
Modric plays a corner-kick short to Kramaric before immediately receiving it back but the cross from a narrow angle is blocked at the outset by a covering Eustaquio.
10'
Larin is slipped through on goal by Davies, causing Livakovic to come storming off his line to meet the striker. The goalkeeper does just enough to prevent an easy finish, with the linesman raising his flag for offside anyway.
8'
Davies comes infield to press Modric with intent but the Real Madrid midfielder displays his class and intelligence, feinting this way and that before finding the easy pass to keep Croatia ticking along.
6'
Kramaric displays good feet to receive Perisic’s switch and take Miller on near the 18-yard box but his eventual cross is fumbled and eventually caught by Borjan.
4'
Croatia have it all to do after getting themselves into an early hole. Dalic is pacing his technical area nervously with his side on the attack as Kramaric looks for a quick response.
2'
A. Davies has scored a goal for Canada! Assist by T. Buchanan.
CANADA’S FIRST GOAL AT THE WORLD CUP! WHO ELSE BUT DAVIES? 1-0! Buchanan whips a lovely cross into the penalty area between Lovren and Juranovic, with Davies storming in to meet it. The wing-back rises highest and powers a header past Livakovic to give his side the lead within 120 seconds!
Club Brugge's Buchanan notches the assist with a lovely curling cross to Davies.
1'
Croatia get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the World Cup group F match between Croatia and Canada!
One of the better displays in the first round of games was not enough to earn Canada a point in their first World Cup match since 1986, losing 1-0 to Belgium in the narrowest of fashions. John Herdman will have to put the disappointment behind him as he looks to help guide the Canucks to their first ever result at the tournament - with Canada losing in all four of their previous games.
An opening-day draw with Morocco ended a run of five-consecutive victories for Croatia, who still have every chance to top the group after starting with a point. Last World Cup’s runners-up will be looking to put in a more dominant display against Canada, with the midfield trio still led by Modric key for Zlatko Dalic’s side.
CANADA SUBS: James Pantemis, Lucas Cavallini, Joel Waterman, Liam Fraser, David Wotherspoon, Dayne St. Clair, Sam Adekugbe, Ike Ugbo, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Derek Cornelius, Liam Millar, Jonathan Osorio, Samuel Piette, Junior Hoilett, Ismael Kone.
CANADA XI (3-4-3): Milan Borjan; Alistair Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller; Richie Laryea, Atiba Hutchinson, Stephen Eustaquio, Alphonso Davies; Tajon Buchanan, Cyle Larin, Jonathan David.
CROATIA SUBS: Nikola Vlasic, Luka Sucic, Martin Erlic, Ante Budimir, Ivo Grbic, Josip Sutalo, Mario Pasalic, Ivica Ivusic, Lovro Majer, Borna Barisic, Miroslav Orsic, Bruno Petkovic, Josip Stanisic, Kristijan Jakic.
CROATIA XI (4-3-3): Dominik Livakovic; Borna Sosa, Josko Gvardiol, Dejan Lovren, Josip Juranovic; Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric; Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Marko Livaja.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
Canada have no choice but to come forward and attack, with a loss enough to eliminate them in the tournament with a game to go. Cavallini could be called into action to get another striker on the pitch, while Basel’s Liam Millar could be an option to provide additional wing support offensively. Croatia have a number of options to see out the result, with Atalanta’s Pasalic and Rennes’ Majer able to cycle possession and provide relief to the aging legs of Modric.
That concludes our commentary of the World Cup group F match between Croatia and Canada! We hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Croatia have a chance to win the group on Thursday when they play Belgium. Canada wrap up their campaign against Morocco on the same day.
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