For half an hour against Croatia today, it looked like Canada was about to provide just the latest shock result in a 2022 World Cup tournament full of them.

Just as they had against Belgium, Les Rouges came flying out of the gates. But unlike in their opening match of the tournament, they made that momentum count as Tajon Buchanan found Alphonso Davies with a brilliant curling cross that Canada’s talisman headed home.

It was a magnificent moment —  history from a player who has already made so much for this country. Canada built from there, playing the kind of high-tempo football that had endeared them to the world. There were fancy flicks, nutmegs, and moments of genuine attacking magic.

But Croatia, with their backs against the wall, demonstrated the experience that Canada was perhaps missing. They were able to survive the opening period of Canada dominance without further damage long enough to make adjustments of their own. Those adjustments, and Canada’s inability to further adapt, resulted in a lopsided 4-1 loss and Les Rouges’ knockout dreams ending.

Even before Croatia found their opening goal in the 36th minute, Croatia had already started to capitalize on a mismatch in the midfield, as their trio of Luka Modrić, Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić altered their shape, shifting Kovačić slightly forward, creating pockets of space for him and Ivan Perišić to combine down the left-hand flank. Canada’s duo of Atiba Hutchinson and Stephen Eustáquio became far too stretched as a result. 

Canada’s counter-adjustment, meanwhile, didn’t come until halftime when they were already down a goal. They spent the stretch after Croatia’s goal just desperately trying to play with a game plan that was no longer working.

A big part of that came down to fitness. After running Belgium off the part in their opening match, Canada didn’t appear to have the legs to do the same today for more than a third of today’s match. Eustáquio had to be taken out of the match early through apparent injury, while Hutchinson looked below his usual standard.

Canada manager John Herdman, perhaps, waited a bit too long to add a critical extra body in midfield to help transition and tired legs. It also would have helped Canada play out of the back better, as the Croatian counter-press started to cause them significant issues as the match wore on.

Once the second goal had gone in, Croatia was able to just sit back in their incredibly well-organized lines and force the Canadians to try to play through them. When Canada couldn’t, they turned the ball quickly the other way and caught the scrambling Canadian backline out of position.

Desperate to tie the game, Canada showed less and less composure on the ball, getting themselves into trouble on multiple occasions as the pressure of elimination seemed to mount.

After being taught a lesson in finishing against Belgium, Canada was taught a lesson in game management by Croatia. Unfortunately, you only get one lesson at a tournament like the World Cup, the second one is fatal.

Once they smelled blood, an experienced World Cup side like Croatia was always going to be ruthless. They set out to do, well, exactly what Herdman now infamously suggested his side would do to them. They had the four goals, but could have had even more if it wasn’t for Milan Borjan, as they created six big chances during the match.

Canada’s moment of history at the end of the day, was fleeting against the backdrop of another harsh lesson on the world stage. But they will still have one final chance to show they can learn from heartbreak as they take on Morrocco on Thursday, looking to make even bigger history and earning Canada its first-ever World Cup win.