Croatia's head coach Zlatko Dalic (center, bottom) celebrates his team's first goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Croatia and Canada, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov 27, 2022. (THEMBA HADEBE / AP)

DOHA - Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic warned his players against complacency after his side edged toward a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout phase on Sunday with a 4-1 rout of Canada.

The result means the 2018 finalists need only a draw in their final group match against Belgium on Thursday to progress to the round of 16. Canada, playing in their first World Cup since 1986, will miss a place in the next round irrespective of the result of their clash with Morocco, also on Thursday.

The result means Croatia, the 2018 finalists, need only a draw in their final group match against Belgium on Thursday to progress to the round of 16

"We took a small step here, but we are far from our ultimate goal," Dalic told a news conference. "We must not accept the possibility of taking only one point from the match with Belgium. We should not be carried away by euphoria."

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Canada threatened to cause an upset at Khalifa International Stadium when Alphonso Davies scored the team's first World Cup goal in the second minute. But a brace from Andrej Kramaric and goals from Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer ensured Croatia secured their first win of the tournament.

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Dalic praised Canada, saying the North American outfit gave his players a difficult test.

Canada's Alistair Johnston (up) and Croatia's Ivan Perisic challenge for the ball during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Croatia and Canada, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Nov 27, 2022. (MARTIN MEISSNER / AP)

"We played an extraordinary Canada, they were full of energy," Dalic said. "They scored a goal in the first minutes that gave them more energy and power, but we managed to stabilize ourselves."