The first match for the Chequered Ones ended in a scoreless draw with Morocco, while Canada lost to Belgium’s Red Devils by a solitary goal.
Team News
Croatia
- Attacker Nikola Vlasic left Croatia’s 1-1 draw with Morocco at halftime due to pain, but the West Ham United player has since been put through his paces in training and is expected to be fine for the rest of the tournament.
- Even if Vlasic is fit to play again, Marko Livaja is expected to link up with Andrej Kramaric and Ivan Perisic in the final third. However, Domagoj Vida is questionable due to muscular discomfort.
- Dalic has no other injury concerns to work around for Sunday’s game against Rennes, when the midfielder Lovro Majer will likely be needed off the bench again to provide attacking impetus with Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, and Mateo Kovacic seemingly set to start.
Canada
- While Milan Borjan and Stephen Eustaquio were given the green light to play despite previous concerns over their fitness levels, Canada’s star man Davies battled back from a hamstring injury to make the starting lineup in their opening loss to Belgium.
- Herdman has no new concerns to report from the first game, so he can afford to make few changes to his starting lineup in response to his team’s strong showing, though Cyle Larin has a good shot at starting up front in place of Junior Hoilett.
- Atiba Hutchinson will become the first Canadian player to earn 100 caps this weekend, but if his 39-year-old legs need a rest, Ismael Kone and Jonathan Osorio are ready to step in.
Possible Lineup
Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic;
Canada: Borjan; Laryea, Johnston, Vitoria, Miller, Davies; Buchanan, Hutchinson, Eustaquio, Larin; David
Prediction Analysis
On the first day of the tournament, Canada showed more attacking intent than Croatia, but any similar profligacy against a resolute Chequered Ones defense will be disastrous.
A goalless draw is certainly possible, so neutral fans should look elsewhere, but if Dalic’s team can hold firm at the back and win the midfield battle, they should be able to squeak out a victory in a close match.
Our prediction is Croatia 2-1 Canada