Croatia’s Kramaric jibes at Canada boss after World Cup win

DOHA, Qatar — The query got here, as anticipated, and Croatia ahead Andrej Kramaric gave a smile, as anticipated.

Did the feedback from Canada head coach, John Herdman, about how his gamers have been going to “F— Croatia,” serve to fireplace up the Croatians forward of this essential recreation?

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“I need to thank Canada’s coach for the motivation,” Kramaric stated shortly after Croatia routed Canada in a 4-1 win, sending the North American crew crashing out of the World Cup.

“We demonstrated who F—-d whom,” he added.

Canada lead inside two minutes by an excellent Alphonso Davies header, however Croatia hit again with two objectives within the first half, and one other pair of strikes within the second to safe a cushty win.

Herman’s feedback forward of the match led to a Croatian tabloid placing his face on its cowl in a graphic illustration that questioned whether or not Canada had the center to win the sport.

When requested if he had any regrets, Herdman stated: “Not within the first 20 minutes, no.

“I believe there is a respect there for Croatia,” he added. “As I maintain saying, we’re right here to push so far as we are able to. We’re right here to alter the mentality of the group. I may have been somewhat bit extra composed popping out of that one, however that is my studying. I am going to take that one on the chin. However I believe we confirmed in these first 25 minutes, that little Canada can compete with the world.”

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic demanded respect forward of the match, and he had little extra to say afterward, although he did notice that Herdman didn’t come to shake his hand after the defeat.

“I didn’t see the opposite head coach after the match,” Dalic stated. “He was not there and that is his means of doing issues. He’s a high-quality skilled however it’ll take a while for him to be taught some issues.”

Croatia are joint-leaders in Group F with only one recreation remaining, whereas Canada sit an insurmountable 4 factors behind, eliminating them from the event.

Davies’s early aim made historical past — it was Canada’s first-ever aim at a males’s World Cup — however the facet did not maintain that vitality.

“I am very comfortable for the second,” Davies informed TSN after the match. “I am dissatisfied within the consequence. It isn’t straightforward to take defeat. We would have liked these three factors.”

Herdman praised Croatia’s assault and was left to level at his crew’s ultimate match as a possibility to make a special form of historical past, as Canada are nonetheless seeking their first males’s World Cup victory.

“We acquired to have a good time one thing we would been ready a very long time for,” Herdman stated of Davies’s aim. “[But] while you open your self as much as a crew like Croatia, they will be scientific in transition. I assumed they gave a masterclass in transition.

“I am happy with what [the players] achieved tonight. They will be hurting. However then we glance ahead. There’s nonetheless lots for us to play for.”