The Croats seal their passage to the second round with great sadness. The Belgians go home.
Tension was chewed in Croatia-Belgium’s Ahmad Bin Ali with how much both were at stake on the third and final day of the group stage, and despite no goals being scored, the two teams went for it all and had chances to to score. Lukaku, on two very clear occasions when the ball went into the goal mouth, was unable to take advantage and lead the Red Devils to the play-offs.
Roberto Martínez’s men put more effort into winning in the final stretch, but the great Belgian generation will not be able to repeat what they achieved in Russia 2018. Of course, everything could have been settled in the first half, had it not been for the VAR correcting a Carrasco penalty for offside prior to Modric’s free kick. The runner-up breathes a sigh of relief, Belgium weeps at their failure in what was arguably the last World Cup for some of their stars.
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GOALS, VIDEOS AND SUMMARY
Here Belgium missed the ranking
90´ + 4 FINAL! CROATIA CLASSIFIES AND BELGIUM IS KEEP OUT!
90´ Discount time: 4 minutes.
89´ THIS CANNOT! Lukaku found the ball in the goal mouth again on a cross from Thorgan Hazard and, with Livakovic off target, made a soft finish and eventually caught the Croatian goalkeeper.
86′ LUKAKU DID NOT BELIEVE IT! The striker finished off an extension of a teammate’s head with his shin in the small area.
78 ‘The game becomes a tour, a goal can change everything for Croatia and Belgium.
Belgium’s double chance that could change everything
67′ Croatia returned to Courtois’ goal and it was Modric who tried his luck after coming from the second row, but the goalkeeper easily caught the ball.
Dalic also takes a step after the Belgian reaction
62′ LUKAKU ESCAPE AGAIN! De Bruyne’s cross from the left, a Croatian defender cleared it flawlessly and the ball fell back to the Inter striker, who headed in with an empty goal.
60′ DOUBLE CHANCE FOR BELGIUM! First, Carrasco escaped into the centre-backs before meeting Livakovic and the rebound was picked up by Lukaku to shoot, but the ball hit the post.
54´ ANOTHER FROM COURTOIS! Croatia arrived again, first it was Brozovic and then Modric who tried their luck with shots.
49´ STOP AT COURTOIS! The Belgian goalkeeper flew out to prevent Kovacic’s shot from reaching the right corner of his goal.
48′ Lukaku’s immediate impact: De Bruyne put the shot from the right and the Inter striker headed into the goal mouth into the hands of Livakovic.
The second part is already at stake! Roberto Martínez puts tab and puts Lukaku
45′ + 4 Juranovic hit the ball with everything he could in the last play of the first half, but it went wide. Aimless rest in a first act that has clearly gone from more to less. Belgium need a goal to get into the round of 16, while a draw is worth it for Croatia, although they would currently do so second in the group.
45´ Discount time: 4 minutes.
The miracle of roulette taken from the handle Yannick Carrasco
33 ‘Croatia now arrived with a timid header from Kramaric that went wide. The game has gained momentum.
25 ‘The urgency of Belgium can be felt in the green, that of Roberto Martínez is more intense and sharper than that of the Croats.
17′ The VAR CORRECT THE DECISION! From the hall they have appreciated an earlier offside and the referee reverses what he indicated a while ago.
15´ PUNISHMENT IN favor of CROATIA! Amidst the commotion in the Belgian area, Carrasco steps on the leg of a Croatian player and the referee has no doubts. Modric is going to throw it, will he cheat on his teammate Courtois?
13´ UP MERTENS! Belgian counter Kevin De Bruyne led until he saw the small striker unmarked, but he didn’t throw his body forward in the shot and blasted the ball over the Croatian goal.
11´ OPPORTUNITY FOR CARRASCO! Good arrival of Belgium built from the right wing, they receive that of Atlético in the area, they look for the gap to shoot and finally meet Livakovic, who had covered the short stick very well.
1′ PERISIC HAD IT! The Croatian winger hit him with his right foot on the edge of the penalty area and the shot missed just 20 seconds into the game.
1´The ball is already rolling!
The hymns sound in the Ahmad Bin Ali!
With these eleven Croatia and Belgium come out to seal the passage to the round of 16!
STATISTICS
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Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.