What Alphonso Davies did in the first minute of the second World Cup game of his career should hardly have surprised the football-interested public between Munich and Vancouver: he sprinted across the field. The majority of matches in this World Cup have started fairly leisurely so far, which is why the Croatians didn’t let Davies’ sprint spur their defensive efforts too much when the ball entered their half. Until suddenly a half-field cross flew in – and the FC Bayern full-back had long since arrived in the penalty area, where he took off briefly and then scored the 1-0. It was a gateway of historic importance to his country.
Canada’s first goal at a World Cup confirmed the impression from the first game, in which the team had already impressed with their courageous attacking game, which only failed due to Belgian callousness and Davies’ nerves on penalties. In the end it was 0:1, undeserved and therefore all the more sobering.
The experience of a World Cup stage, where every word weighs heavily, will also be remembered
History was to repeat itself as Davies’ early goal against Croatia was the prelude to a courageous performance which, however, had obvious flaws: Croatia eventually won 4-1 to put themselves in an excellent position to qualify for the round of 16 – during it is certain that Canada will start their journey home after the group stage.
In addition to two good performances, the North Americans will also remember the experience of a world championship stage where every word weighs heavily. Especially if it starts with “F” and ends with “uck”. In his euphoria after the Belgium game, Canada’s coach John Herdman had announced with that drastic word that one shouldn’t worry too much about Croatia. That had brought him an answer from Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic (“We are second in the World Cup. We expect respect.”) and one from the tabloid magazine 24 Satawhich Herdman featured on the cover, with a large maple leaf on the mouth and a small maple leaf on lower body regions.
The preliminary skirmish was then followed by the intimidating run of Davies, 22, who briefly unsettled the Croatians, who were not only experienced in tabloid trash talk, with his goal. It took Luka Modric and his midfield partners Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic fifteen minutes to come to terms with the early deficit – but then the game turned. The Croatians, in the first game against Morocco still notably inconspicuous in the opposing half, got into the game better every minute, controlled the action and had chances: Andrej Kramaric made it 1-1 in the 26th minute, but was called off due to an offside position.
A sprint like 1-0 is still possible for a then 26-year-old Davies
The equalizer came eleven minutes later: Ivan Perisic put the ball through his opponent’s legs for Kramaric, who shot into the far post. Croatia now seemed to have discovered the playful ease that Dalic’s team had recently distinguished in the run-up to Qatar. Kovacic in particular kept creating space in midfield, while Modric and Brozovic secured. In the 44th minute, full-back Josip Juranovic, who had left Davies alone in the first minute, ran in the direction of the Canadian penalty area and, via detours, found striker Marko Livaja, who scored low from 15 meters to make it 2-1.
The half-time lead for Croatia was well deserved and the picture remained the same in the second half: Canada tried again and again with their counterattackers, but left too many gaps open in defence. In the 54th minute, Kramaric already had the preliminary decision on his feet, but only scored in the 70th minute to make it 3-1, again on Perisic’s pass. Shortly before the end, Lovro Majer scored the 4:1, with which the Croatians reported back after initial problems in their status as title candidates.
In purely statistical terms, however, Canada’s balance sheet reads rather sobering. However, the experience should be worth a lot for the Canadians with regard to the home World Cup in 2026 – and the good news is: A sprint like the historic 1-0 is still possible for a then 26-year-old Alphonso Davies.
