Croatia advanced to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar after knocking out Belgium today after a 0-0 draw in Al Rayyan.

The match took place at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium and thanks to this result, the Croatians took 2nd place in the 6th group, which puts them face to face with the first from the 5th group (Spain, Japan or Costa Rica). . On the other hand, Belgium, ranked second in the FIFA World Rankings, said goodbye to the competition early.

Belgium started the match with many changes as Martinez “shuffled the deck” to change the discouraging image presented by his side in the first two matches.

In contrast, the Croats had no reason to change from the eleven players who lined up in the 4-1 victory over Canada. Zlatko Dalic’s team had the initiative in the first half, but did not create chances.

She was awarded a penalty, but the referee canceled it after reviewing VAR. All in all, it was 45 minutes that didn’t give the audience the slightest bit of enjoyment, as expediency prevailed. 6-5 in the final downs recorded by the statistician included several “killed” throws, no luck.

This situation, of course, benefited Croatia, which “suited” a draw. So again, it was Martinez who had to find a “cure” for the “disease” of his team, which lacked speed, lacked mood, and lacked creative spirit.

So Romelu Lukaku was asked off the bench to do what he does best. After all, it was he who scored all the goals of his team in the last two matches against Croatia.

In both cases, Belgium won. Indeed, the tall Inter striker “touched” the gate with two very strong moments in three minutes.

In the 60th minute of added time, he hit Livakovic’s left post, and in the 63rd he sent the ball high with his head, and the Croatian goalkeeper was neutralized.

Lukaku still missed two very big chances in the 87th and 89th minutes to turn into an absolutely “fatal” player.
Thus, the procession of the “Red Devils” stopped in Al Rayyan, and the finalists of the previous competition continue in the next stage.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (England).
Yellow: Dentonker

CROATIA (Zlatko Dalic): Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Guardiol, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic (Mayer 90+1), Kramaric (Pasalic 64), Livaya (Petkovic 64), Perisic

BELGIUM (Roberto Martinez): Courtois, Dendoncker (Thielemans 72), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Meunier (Eden Hazard 87), De Bruyne, Witsel, Castañede, Trossard (T. Hazard 59), Mertens (Lukaku 46), Carrasco (Doku, 72′)