Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said John Herdman needs to “learn some things” after accusing the Canada boss of ignoring him following his side’s 4-1 victory in the World Cup grudge match on Sunday.
Dalic had claimed Herdman lacked respect earlier this week following the Canadian coach’s profane attempt to inspire his team after their loss to Belgium in their group opener.
In a television interview, Herdman told his players: “You belong here. And we’re going to go and eff Croatia.”
Responding to Herdman’s rant, Croatia’s 24 Sata tabloid ran a full-page photo of a naked man below the Canada manager’s superimposed head, with maple leaf flags over his mouth and private parts and a headline that translated as “You have the mouth, but do you have the balls as well?”
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The Croatians let their football do the talking despite Alphonso Davies’s second-minute opener at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Hoffenheim forward Kramaric equalised and Marko Livaja put the 2018 World Cup runners-up ahead just before half-time.
Second-half goals from Kramaric and Lovro Majer ensured Croatia could celebrate their first win of the tournament after a goalless draw with Morocco in their first match.
Croatia sit top of Group F, above Morocco on goal difference, and a draw in their final game against Belgium on Thursday would guarantee they reach the last 16.
But Dalic was still agitated by the row at his post-match press conference as he suggested Herdman deliberately snubbed the traditional handshake at the final whistle.
“I went on the pitch to see my players. I did not see the other head coach. Whether I lose or win, I always see the other coach. He was not there and that’s his way of doing things,” Dalic said.
“He’s obviously mad. He is a good coach, he is a quality professional. It will take some time for him to learn some things.”
Asked if he thought he made a mistake with his rant following the Belgium match, Herdman was initially defiant, telling reporters: “Not in the first 20 minutes (of the Croatia game), no.
“They might be celebrating now, and that is their right, they got the goals, but we didn’t give them an easy night.” But the Englishman eventually conceded he would learn from the controversy, saying:
“I could have been a little more composed coming out of the huddle. That is my learning. I will take that on the chin.”
Meanwhile, Croatia’s Kramaric said after the match: “I want to thank the coach of Canada for the motivation.
“He could have chosen better words. He could have formulated it a bit differently. In the end Croatia demonstrated who f*cked whom.”
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– ‘Power and quality’ –
Dalic was relieved to see Croatia respond to the shock of Alphonso Davies’s second-minute opener at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The 2018 runners-up will advance to the last 16 if they avoid defeat in their final group game against Belgium on Thursday.
“In the first minutes they scored but we managed to fight and stabilise ourselves,” Dalic said.
“We got back on our feet. This makes me proud. Croatia once again demonstrated power and quality. We have to make it to the next stage. That is our ultimate goal.”
Davies’s goal was Canada’s first ever at a World Cup after four previous scoreless defeats.
Although they were unable to end that run of losses, Herdman took heart from their spirited performances.
“In terms of the team mentality, we showed little Canada can compete with the best in the world,” he said.
“I’m proud of what they achieved tonight. They made some history for our country.
“The goal was a very special moment to feel that, on this stage against this type of team.”s
