JAKARTA - Croatia has stepped into the semifinals twice in five World Cup participations before this including reaching the 2018 edition final in Russia. Three times they failed to get through the group stage. But this time they were able to walk the road to the checkout phase for the third time when they were challenged by Canada at the Al Bayt Stadium in their second match at Group F of the 2022 World Cup Qatar, Sunday night.
Croatia has many things to fix, especially the sharpness of its attacking line which could only make two efforts right on target when it was held to a 0-0 draw by Morocco.
The result left them two points behind leaders Belgium who beat Canada 1-0 on Croatia only one point from the match against Morocco.
If it returns to a draw, then Croatia's next trip will be even steeper, given that the last opponent he faces is ranked second in the world, Belgium.
To that end, Croatia presents another more clinical face against Canada, because if it is not like this then they must be prepared to create a great irony in Qatar's 2022 World Cup, which is to enter the arena with the status of winning the World Cup qualifying group and runners-up at the 2018 World Cup but even being thrown faster than this competition.
To that end, Croatia must improve performance, especially since Canada, which is ranked first in the qualifying group Concacaf, performed well against Belgium in this second World Cup.
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic hopes for their less sharp performance against Morocco more because of the late heat, rather than because there are big problems in the squad's foundation.
Dalic also faces the fact that his current team is always compared to the 2018 squad when they reach the final before being stopped 2-4 by world champions France in Moscow.
Dalic doesn't want to look back. "Four and a half years have passed and Croatia has a national team that is almost entirely new... we can't compare two different generations of players," Dalic said. "We are ready to keep fighting."
In fact, Croatia must be ready to give everything because Canada also wants to revive its chances of survival in this tournament.
His status as the qualification champion for the Concacaf zone over Mexico and the United States has been confirmed against Belgium in his first match.
The John Herdman team troubled Belgium, which even came as a surprise if Alphonso Davies had not failed to execute a penalty. Canada was stopped by just a goal from Michy Batshuayi.
Canada did lose, but the performance against Belgium left Herdman confident his team had no fear of facing strong teams, including Croatia.
In the Concacaf zone, they have beaten strong teams like Mexico and the United States. So, no they can't do it again against Croatia later.
Despite not losing, Croatia appeared very disappointing in their first match against Morocco.
This is because they can't create meaningful goal opportunities, as if competing in different classes, like not Croatia that people have always known.
Their defensive line was not so touched by the Morocco attack, but their strength in the last third seemed to have disappeared without a trace.
Morocco actually creates more opportunities even though they have far fewer possession of the ball.
Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic knows for sure about this. He knows for sure the situation should not continue against Canada, which looked charming against Belgium, which was favorite to win Group F.
Untuk itu pekerjaan pertama Dalic adalah menjamkan kembali sistem serang mereka. Pemain-main depannya harus lebih klinis lagi.
But this may not make the composition of Croatian players change big. The defense and center line is likely to be the same as against Morocco.
Changes may have occurred in the front lines, but more because striker Nikola Vlasic is feared not to be too fit, not because of his performance against Morocco.
But whether it's Vlasic or not, Mario Pasic and Marko Livaja will now accompany Ivan Perisic in attack. This attacking trio will try even more clinically, especially since Canada may not be performing as defensively as Morocco.
The midfield trio -- Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic -- are also ready to help hone the sharpness of their team.
Likewise, the centre-back duo Josko Gvardiol and Dejan Lovren remain the main protectors of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, assisted by Borna Sosa and Josif Juranovic on both defense wings.
Canada will also not overhaul the composition of its first eleven players, as they have performed well against Belgium.
Surprisingly they turned out to be more dictated to Belgium by releasing 22 attempts to penetrate the opponent's goal, three of which were right on target. Belgium can only make 9 attempts.
Rochie Laryea and Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies are back on the defense but are more advanced in line with midfield duo Atiba Hutchinson and Stephen Eustaquio, who ensure Canada is trying to regain control of ball traffic and create chances.
They will actively assist the attacking trio consisting of Junior Hoilett, Jonathan David, and Tajon Buchanan suppressing Croatian defenses in the 3-4-3 formation.
Meanwhile, the centre-back trio was Johnston, Steven Vitoria, and Kamal Miller were again the main protectors of goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
This is Canada's first meeting with Croatia. Croatia reached the semifinals in their debut in the 1998 World Cup finals. Twenty years later they reached the 2018 World Cup final to give up 2-4 to France who finally won the world.
Canada has never scored a goal in the World Cup. In their first appearance in the 1986 World Cup finals, they have been eliminated since the group stage without a goal without scoring a single goal.
Before reaching the 2018 final, Croatia became the first team in the World Cup to beat their opponents after conceding first in three consecutive rockout matches.
Canada topped the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers in the Concacaf zone after scoring more goals and conceding at least compared to other Concacaf teams.
Croatia (4-3-3): Dominik Livakovic (GK); Josif Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Marcelo Brozovic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic; Mario Pasalic, Marko Livaja, Ivan Perisic.
Canada (3-4-3): Milan Borjan (GK);tangle Johnston, Steven Vitoria, Kamal Miller; Rochie Laryea, Atiba Hutchinson, Stephen Eustaquio, Alphonso Davies; Junior Hoilett, Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan.
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