The Croats clinched passage to the knockout phase with a heavy heart, while Belgium exited the tournament. The final day of the group stage in Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium was a study in tension for Croatia and Belgium, even though the scoreboard remained stubbornly quiet. Both teams pushed forward with everything on the line, crafting chances as the clock wore on. Romelu Lukaku had two clear openings that would have turned the odds in Belgium’s favor, but he couldn’t convert. The Belgian effort in the closing minutes underscored a generation that may not be repeated in the same form, even as Croatia held firm and sealed their spot.
The drama of the Qatar World Cup 2022 built around what was at stake in this match. A goal here would decide who progressed and who faced an early summer of reflection. Much of the talk circled back to the moment when a Carrasco penalty was overturned for offside by VAR just before Modric’s free kick changed the tone of the half. In the end, the runner-up slot was enough to spare Croatia while Belgium wrestled with disappointment that will linger long after the final whistle.
GOALS, VIDEOS AND SUMMARY
Here Belgium missed the ranking
90´ + 4 FINAL! CROATIA CLASSIFIES AND BELGIUM IS KEPT OUT!
89´ Lukaku found space in front of goal again from a cross by Thorgan Hazard, but his effort rolled through Livakovic’s legs as the goalkeeper struggled to parry and secure.
86′ Lukaku rounded off a late chance, turning a teammate’s header into a finish that found the wrong side of the post.
78‘ The contest felt like a tour of opportunities where a single goal could tilt the balance for either side.
72′ Double substitution: Yannick Carrasco and Leander Dendoncker exited, with Jeremy Doku and Youri Tielemans entering the fray. The Belgian attack kept pushing for a breakthrough while Croatia guarded the edge of their box. #KROBEL #DEVILTIME
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) December 1, 2022
Belgium’s double chance that could change everything
67′ Modric drilled a shot from range after a restart, but Courtois parried with conviction and the ball stayed out of the net.
62′ Lukaku escaped again as De Bruyne’s left‑sided cross found him in the box, but a Croatian defender cleared decisively and the chance dissolved.
60′ Belgium pressed with a double chance. Carrasco carved a path into the central defense and then linked with Lukaku, who struck the post on the rebound after Livakovic had scrambled to keep the ball out.
54´ Courtois denied a Croatia threat as Brozovic and Modric tried their luck from distance, keeping the scoreline level and the tension high.
49´ Courtois flew off his line to snuff out Kovacic’s attempt before it found a corner of the goal.
48′ Lukaku’s immediate impact: De Bruyne delivered from the right, and Lukaku headed toward the net, but Livakovic claimed it comfortably.
The second half began with a sense of urgency for Belgium as Martínez rearranged his attack, nudging Lukaku into more involvement and chasing a goal that would alter the trajectory of the group. The crowd could feel the moment arriving, even if the execution did not.
45′ + 4 Juranovic smashed a late first-half shot that drifted wide. The half had ebbed from intensity to caution, with Belgium needing a goal to advance and Croatia happy to sit in a favorable position heading into the break.
33′ Croatia nudged ahead in momentum after a tense start, with Kramaric testing the nerves of the Belgian defense as the game opened up.
25′ Belgium showed urgency in the green field, while Roberto Martinez appeared visibly more focused on tightening cohesion and sharpening the attack than on preserving the draw alone.
17′ A VAR correction unblocked a potential advantage as an earlier offside decision was reversed, a moment that rippled through the players and coaching staff alike.
15′ A penalty for Croatia shifted the mood. Carrasco stepped upon a Croatian foot in the box as play unfolded, and Modric prepared to take the spot kick with the competition’s scrutiny intense. Could Courtois be beaten from 12 yards? The keeper stood tall, and the moment passed with no goal.
13′ A Belgian counterattack briefly promised more but De Bruyne couldn’t convert the unmarked opportunity, firing over the Croatian goal from a promising position.
11′ Carrasco found space on the right and sent a low ball into the danger zone, but Livakovic read the play and smothered the shot at the near post.
1′ Perisic tested the Belgian defense early, his shot flashing just wide. The ball kept rolling, and the Ahmad Bin Ali stadium opened its chorus as the two teams began their bid for a place in the knockout rounds.
With these eleven players Croatia and Belgium began their push toward the round of 16, intent on carving their own destinies on the world stage. A moment of tactical discipline, a dash of luck, and a stubborn defense decided the outcome in this pivotal group clash.
STATISTICS
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All content is provided with attribution. This recap sources the match events and commentary from Goal, and condenses key moments for fans seeking a clear narrative of the encounter and its implications for the World Cup standings.