Canada’s World Cup dream could be squashed in their next match, unless they can upset 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia.
Alphonso Davies and Co. did their nation proud on their first trip to the finals in 36 years against Group F heavyweights Belgium, despite falling to a narrow 1-0 defeat. Indeed, had Davies scored an early penalty, things could have been different.
Their first-half performance will have given Croatia cause for concern after the Luka Modric-led nation’s poor 0-0 draw against Morocco.
Below are the projected lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the match.
MORE: How to watch Croatia vs. Canada
Croatia vs Canada lineups
Canada came away from their Belgium defeat with zero points, but coach John Herdman still has a fully fit squad to take on Croatia.
Herdman was proud of his team after the opening match, but wants more.
“The big question was can we cope with the big boys and for a lot of that game we did,” the Canada coach said.
“But we didn’t take three points and there was a deep frustration underneath all of the celebration of the performance.”
Croatia projected starting 11
(4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic (GK) — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa— 10. Modric, 8. Kovacic, 11. Brozovic — 14. Livaja, 9. Kramaric, 4. Perisic.
- Injured: Vlasic
- Suspended: None
One change is inevitable in Croatia’s lineup, with Nikola Vlasic set to be sidelined. The Torino man was withdrawn at halftime against Morocco with a calf problem.
Vlasic was absent from training for two days in the aftermath but rejoined the squad on Saturday. However, Croatian outlets are reporting that Vlasic won’t be risked against Canada, and that Marko Livaja will replace him in attack.
Canada projected starting 11
(3-5-2, right to left): 18. Borjan (GK) — 2. Johnston, 5. Vitoria, 4. Miller — 22. Lareya, 7. Eustaquio, 10. Hoilett, 13. Hutchinson, 19. Davies. — 20. David, 11. Buchanan.
- Injured: None
- Suspended: None
Canada are expected to stick with the lineup that faced Belgium, with a fully fit squad still at Herdman’s disposal.
Alphonso Davies was fantastically sharp in the opening match, cooling pre-tournament fears over his condition. The Bayern Munich star picked up a hamstring problem in Germany on November 5.
Croatia vs Canada World Cup squads
Here are the names on the Canadian and Croatian World Cup squads in Qatar (caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):
Croatia
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Dominik Livakovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 27 | 35 |
| GK | 12 | Ivo Grbic | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 26 | 2 |
| GK | 23 | Ivica Ivusic | Osijek (CRO) | 27 | 5 |
| DEF | 2 | Josip Stanisic | Bayern Munich (GER) | 22 | 7 |
| DEF | 3 | Borna Barisic | Rangers (SCO) | 29 | 28 |
| DEF | 5 | Martin Erlic | Sassuolo (ITA) | 24 | 4 |
| DEF | 6 | Dejan Lovren | Zenit St Petersburg (ITA) | 33 | 73 |
| DEF | 19 | Borna Sosa | VfB Stuttgart (GER) | 24 | 9 |
| DEF | 20 | Josko Gvardiol | RB Leipzig (GER) | 20 | 13 |
| DEF | 21 | Domagoj Vida | AEK Athens (GRE) | 33 | 100 |
| DEF | 22 | Josip Juranovic | Celtic (SCO) | 27 | 22 |
| DEF | 24 | Josip Sutalo | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 22 | 3 |
| MID | 7 | Lovro Majer | Rennes (FRA) | 24 | 12 |
| MID | 8 | Mateo Kovacic | Chelsea (ENG) | 28 | 85 |
| MID | 10 | Luka Modric | Real Madrid (SPA) | 37 | 156 |
| MID | 25 | Luka Sucic | RB Salzburg (AUS) | 20 | 4 |
| MID | 11 | Marcelo Brozovic | Inter Milan (ITA) | 29 | 78 |
| MID | 13 | Nikola Vlasic | Torino (ITA) | 25 | 43 |
| MID | 15 | Mario Pasalic | Atalanta (ITA) | 27 | 44 |
| MID | 26 | Kristijan Jakic | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 25 | 4 |
| FWD | 4 | Ivan Perisic | Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) | 33 | 117 |
| FWD | 9 | Andrej Kramaric | Hoffenheim (GER) | 31 | 75 |
| FWD | 14 | Marko Livaja | Hadjuk Split (CRO) | 29 | 15 |
| FWD | 16 | Bruno Petkovic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 28 | 23 |
| FWD | 17 | Ante Budimir | Osasuna (ENG) | 31 | 15 |
| FWD | 18 | Mislav Orsic | Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) | 29 | 22 |
Canada
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 18 | Milan Borjan | Red Star Belgrade (SRB) | 35 | 68 |
| GK | 16 | James Pantemis | CF Montreal (CAN) | 25 | 0 |
| GK | 1 | Dayne St. Clair | Minnesota United (USA) | 25 | 2 |
| DEF | 3 | Sam Adekugbe | Hatayspor (TUR) | 27 | 34 |
| DEF | 25 | Derek Cornelius | Panetolikos (GRE) | 24 | 14 |
| DEF | 2 | Alistair Johnston | CF Montreal (CAN) | 24 | 30 |
| DEF | 22 | Richie Laryea | Toronto FC (CAN) | 27 | 34 |
| DEF | 4 | Kamal Miller | CF Montreal (CAN) | 25 | 29 |
| DEF | 5 | Steven Vitoria | GD Chaves (POR) | 35 | 35 |
| DEF | 26 | Joel Waterman | CF Montreal (CAN) | 26 | 2 |
| MID | 7 | Stephen Eustaquio | FC Porto (POR) | 25 | 22 |
| MID | 8 | Liam Fraser | KMSK Deinze (BEL) | 24 | 15 |
| MID | 13 | Atiba Hutchinson | Besiktas (TUR) | 39 | 98 |
| MID | 14 | Mark-Anthony Kaye | Toronto FC (CAN) | 27 | 38 |
| MID | 15 | Ismael Kone | CF Montreal (CAN) | 20 | 6 |
| MID | 21 | Jonathan Osorio | Toronto FC (CAN) | 30 | 57 |
| MID | 23 | Liam Millar | FC Basel (SWZ) | 23 | 16 |
| MID | 6 | Samuel Piette | CF Montreal (CAN) | 28 | 66 |
| MID | 24 | David Wotherspoon | St. Johnstone (SCO) | 32 | 10 |
| MID | 10 | Junior Hoilett | Reading FC (ENG) | 32 | 50 |
| FWD | 11 | Tajon Buchanan | Club Brugge (BEL) | 23 | 26 |
| FWD | 9 | Lucas Cavallini | Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) | 29 | 34 |
| FWD | 20 | Jonathan David | LOSC Lille (FRA) | 22 | 35 |
| FWD | 19 | Alphonso Davies | Bayern Munich (GER) | 22 | 34 |
| FWD | 17 | Cyle Larin | Club Brugge (BEL) | 27 | 55 |
| FWD | 12 | Ike Ugbo | Troyes (FRA) | 24 | 8 |
Credit: sportingnews.com