World Cup: Croatia - Canada 0-1

Croatia-Canada 0-1

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Croatia coach, "we runners-up, respect Canada"

- "We Croatians are the vice-champions in charge: Canada and its coach respect us": in the words of coach Zlatko Dalic, the "hot" eve of the match valid for the second day of group F of the World Cup in Qatar.

In the first round of the group, Croatia drew 0-0 with Morocco, while Canada were beaten 1-0 by Belgium.

And just after the defeat against the Red Devils, the North American coach, John Herdman, in very strong tones, asked his players not to be intimidated by the "caliber" of the Croatians, starting with that of the star Luka Modric.

"Croatia - said Dalic - deserves respect from everyone. In 2018 we reached the final, we won two medals at the World Cup in the last 30 years".

referring to the third place in France in 1998. "Canada - added the Croatian coach - is an excellent team, which gave Belgium a hard time with high pressing and a lot of running. We will have to be much more energetic than the match against Morocco: we want a more compact team, we have always reacted to difficulties, but - he concluded - we will have to be intelligent and play more vertically".

For his part, Herdman also highlighted that his team is "ready for this decisive match. It is a key challenge: we have been waiting for this moment for 36 years (Canada did not participate in a final tournament of the 1986 World Cup). We are extremely motivated, to my players - concluded the coach - I don't have to say anything more".

Croatian coach - they're an excellent team, who gave Belgium a hard time with high pressure and a lot of running.

We will have to be much more energetic than in the match against Morocco: we want a more compact team, we have always reacted to difficulties, but - he concluded - we will have to be intelligent and play more vertically". For his part, Herdman also highlighted that his team is "ready for this decisive match.

It's a key challenge: we've been waiting for this moment for 36 years (Canada did not participate in a final tournament of the 1986 World Cup).

We are extremely motivated, I don't have to say anything more to my players - concluded the coach".

Croatian coach - they're an excellent team, who gave Belgium a hard time with high pressure and a lot of running.

We will have to be much more energetic than in the match against Morocco: we want a more compact team, we have always reacted to difficulties, but - he concluded - we will have to be intelligent and play more vertically". For his part, Herdman also highlighted that his team is "ready for this decisive match.

It's a key challenge: we've been waiting for this moment for 36 years (Canada did not participate in a final tournament of the 1986 World Cup).

We are extremely motivated, I don't have to say anything more to my players - concluded the coach".

We will have to be much more energetic than in the match against Morocco: we want a more compact team, we have always reacted to difficulties, but - he concluded - we will have to be intelligent and play more vertically". For his part, Herdman also highlighted that his team is "ready for this decisive match.

It's a key challenge: we've been waiting for this moment for 36 years (Canada did not participate in a final tournament of the 1986 World Cup).

We are extremely motivated, I don't have to say anything more to my players - concluded the coach".

We will have to be much more energetic than in the match against Morocco: we want a more compact team, we have always reacted to difficulties, but - he concluded - we will have to be intelligent and play more vertically". For his part, Herdman also highlighted that his team is "ready for this decisive match.

It's a key challenge: we've been waiting for this moment for 36 years (Canada did not participate in a final tournament of the 1986 World Cup).

We are extremely motivated, I don't have to say anything more to my players - concluded the coach".