Croatia calls for ‘respect’ after Herdman’s comment
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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has said his side deserve respect as World Cup runners-up after Canada’s John Herdman used an offensive phrase to boost Sunday’s group game.
After Canada lost 1-0 to Belgium in his first game, manager Herdman said, “I said it [the players] they belong here and we’re going to get out of Croatia.”
Herdman has since apologized.
“The way to put these words together is not respect,” said Dalic, who missed the Russia 2018 final.
“We are runners-up, we are worthy of respect… I will not focus or comment on other people’s comments.
“We respect everyone equally, so we expect our opponents to do the same.”
A Croatian tabloid newspaper printed a full-page photo of a naked shepherd with maple leaves covering his mouth and private parts alongside the headline: “You have a mouth, but do you also have balls?”
Croatia are tied with Morocco on one point in Group F, where Belgium lead with three points and Canada are below with one.
TEAM NEWS
Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic had to go off at half-time against Morocco due to a calf problem and is considered a fitness doubt.
If unavailable, one of Lovro Majer, Mario Pasalic or Mislav Orsic is likely to replace.
Canada has no fresh injury problems and Atiba Hutchison will become the first man to win 100 caps for the country.
Alphonso Davies and Alistair Johnston are both one-ban reserves.
CHRIS SUTTON’S PREDICTION
Canada is a bit like the US in that they play forward football and it’s exciting to watch, but they can be held back by teams that are willing to wait for them to explode.
They might have some joy here, though. Croatia are not exactly scorers and are not the team they were when they reached the final four years ago.
Prediction: 0-1
Sutton’s complete predictions for the second round of World Cup matches
DATA OF THE MATCH
- Croatia’s only defeat in their last 17 games was 3-0 at home to Austria in the Nations League in June (W11 D5).
- They failed to progress beyond the group stage in the previous three World Cups when they failed to win their opening match.
- Canada has lost all four World Cup games. They are yet to score despite 50 attempts on goal in these games.
- The Canadians could become only the second nation to fail to score in their first five World Cup games, emulating Bolivia (1930-94).
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