Oh, the flagrant disrespect. Would somebody please not think of the children? Did Tajon Buchanan and Alphonso Davies not know this was Croatia? THE Croatia the reigning World Cup runners-up, because apparently thats some sort of title nowadays.Canada head coach John Herdman caused a pre-match stir when he revealed, in the immediate aftermath of his teams desperately unlucky 1-0 defeat to Belgium, that he had tried to pump up his deflated players by telling them they were going to go and eff Croatia.Opposite number Zlatko Dalic took this slightly puppyish enthusiasm from a newcomer to this stage with all the warmth of Kabion Ento Jersey the bleak European evenings through which those on his continent are watching this strange World Cup.The Croatia team deserves respect from everyone, he said. We have proven that by the way we have played and our conduct during the World Cup. We are the runners-up, second in the world.We respect everyone equally, so we expect our opposing teams to respect us. This way of Whitney Mercilus Jersey putting words together is not a sign of respect.Croatia are a highly talented team, as they showed in a thrilling 4-1 comeback win over their North American opponents at the Khalifa International Stadium. Unfortunately, off the field, they simply seem to be highly strung.Four-and-a-half years on from taking England's hymn of self-deprecation Three Lions and the songs Its coming home refrain as an arrogant affront, here was Dalic taking to the microphone as the worlds most boring Aretha Franklin impersonator.After 67 seconds of Sundays game, it maybe wasn't the time to tell dear old Zlatko to look on the brighter side. Right then, in this tournament of shocks, Croatia looked a bit 'effed'. Cyle Larin smoothly laid off to Buchanan, who arced a perfect outswinging cro s for the on-rushing Davies to head home. On the heels of Belgiums lo s to Morocco, Group F was becoming the Group of F. After mi sing a penalty against Belgium, Alphonso Davies bounces back as he scores Canada's first ever World Cup goal. Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) No doubt, after Andrej Kramarics excellent brace and a display of midfield artistry from Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Charles Woodson Jersey Kovacic, there will be some tiresome finger-wagging about Canada and their motormouth coach being put in their place or somesuch, as Herdmans upstart team absorb elimination with a game to spare.Respectfully (see, Zlatko?) those people should get a grip. Nations heading into World Cups as unfancied underdogs rarely get anywhere by nodding gratefully at the big boys for letting them play. Dalic and Croatians of his vintage will know that better than most after the Balkan country rode the wave of a sparkling generation of talent to reach the semifinals of their maiden World Cup in 1998.Coming into the tournament, knowing your place and trying to bluster your way to a couple of 0-0s is no way to inspire. And Canada, as a country trying to grow soccer as a co-host of the 2026 World Cup, are in the inspiration busine s.MORE:Herdman deserves praise for sticking to his template of hard-running, high-pre sing football against two of Europes elite teams of the past decade. Even though, at the end of both halves, his team tired and basic errors stacked up. Even though, by the end, the damage could have been more severe than 4-1.It was worth it for Davies moment of pure joy alone. Mi sed penalty in the first game? No problem, just charge into the box and score your country's history-making first World Cup goal. It was a high note in tune with the teams fearle s outlook.Bayern Munich star Davies went on to produce a virtuoso performance peppered with highlight-reel moments, whether that was him spooking Josip Juranovic into an air kick that left the Croatia right- Eric Stokes Jersey back on the seat of his shorts or staining an exemplary first half from Kovacic by nutmegging the masterful Chelsea playmaker. Canada are the second team to exit the . In tournament history, they are only the third side to lose their first five games (after Mexico and El Salvador). Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) Extra quality told in the end, with Atiba Hutchinson enduring the at-times dubious pleasure of winning his 100th international cap against one of the most gifted midfield ensembles in the tournament, who were forced to operate close to their imperious best.This was the game of the tournament so far, largely because Croatia were clearly told by their opponents that they would have to exchange on those terms.Canada are heading home, but Herdman has set a template for himself or his predece sor to follow, much like Davies has illuminated the path to riches in Europe Aaron Rodgers Jersey that dozens of Canadian youngsters will be desperate to call their own in the decades to come.Les Rouges have succeeded in writing a thrilling chapter in their sparse World Cup story. Now to embellish it in four years time.Bet you cant effing wait.