Croatia vs Belgium 0-0: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
All the updates from the World Cup 2022 match between Croatia and Belgium at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
This blog is closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Croatia vs Belgium World Cup 2022 match on Thursday, December 1.
This blog is closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Croatia vs Belgium World Cup 2022 match on Thursday, December 1.
- Croatia XI: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Kramaric (Pasalic, 64′), Perisic, Livaja (Petkovic, 64′).
- Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Meunier (E Hazard, 87′), Castagne, Witsel, Dendoncker (Tielemans, 72′), Carrasco (Doku, 72′), De Bruyne, Trossard (T Hazard, 59′), Mertens (Lukaku, 46′).
- Thursday’s Group F encounter is taking place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.
- FIFA rankings: Belgium (2), Croatia (12).
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s all folks
We’re finishing our coverage of the stalemate between Belgium and Croatia, with attention turning to our two remaining games today. We have coverage of Costa Rica vs Germany and Japan vs Spain bubbling away, with less than two hours to kickoff.
Bye for now.
Who’s next for Croatia?
The Croats will play the winner of Group E after finishing runners-up, with their likely next opponents being Spain. However, it’s still possible Japan or Costa Rica top the group if either of them can spring a surprise later.
Unlucky Lukaku
No player has missed more Big Chances at the entire 2022 World Cup than Romelu Lukaku did in 45 minutes against Croatia (4). 😳@midnite | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/O3DM7KiMEs
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 1, 2022
Tough on Lukaku
He has barely played any football in the last few months, but all of Belgium’s chances seemed to fall at his feet. It is hard to be too critical of the striker, as a lot of the damage for his team was done before today.
Full-time: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Belgium had enough chances to win the game several times over, but somehow it finishes goalless. Lukaku appears to be in tears after missing a few golden chances, but Croatia hung on in the end.
Zlatko Dalic’s team played a dangerous game hanging on for a draw and placing second in Group F, but they’re through to the last 16.
Read the match report here.
Gvardiol last ditch tackle
Lukaku looks like he’s got a huge opportunity in the box, but the Croatian defender slides to intervene at the last moment. Massive tackle.
90+3 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Croatia make a swap
Kovačić comes off, Majer comes on in his place.
90+2 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Massive Lukaku chance
My word, he needs to put this away. Thorgan Hazard gets a high ball across the box that evades the keeper. Romelu Lukaku has an open goal at the back post but the ball bounces off his chest and into the arms of Dominik Livaković.
Four minutes added on.
91 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Eden Hazard introduced
The 31-year-old attacker is on for Meunier. Can he inspire his team to get a goal?
89 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Lukaku flicks wide
It comes at him quickly and there’s not much more he can do, but the flick he gets on Meunier’s ball goes wide.
88 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Gvardiol fires ball at Livaković
The defender gets his foot on a long ball over his head, and it ends up flying at his own goal. Thankfully it’s straight at his keeper, who collects with the referee saying it was not a back pass.
85 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Croatia wasting time
They seem happy enough to play for the draw and go through as the second-placed team in this group. It could turn nasty for them with one Belgian goal, though, as they would crash out in that case.
Josip Juranović goes on the overlap on their right side but his cut back misses the entire attack.
82 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Gvardiol rock at the back
The 20-year-old has performed like a much more experienced player in the centre of Croatia’s defence. Thorgan Hazard tries to go past him and gets denied, and moments later clears the lines with a strong header.
78 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Golden generation failed on promise?
This World Cup is the last shot for that crop of excellent players that came through Belgium ranks about 10 years ago. But as it stands, they’re facing elimination and have never lifted silverware of note for the national team.
76 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Martinez shuffles pack
Tielemans and Doku come on for Belgium, with Dendoncker and Carrasco departing.
73 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
With just over 20 minutes of normal time to go, here are the key match statistics so far.
Modrić chance
The 37-year-old does well to get a shot away on a bouncing ball, but it ends up in the arms of Thibaut Courtois. Much better game we have now.
69 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Dendoncker picks up booking
His sliding challenge on Kovačić is late and it’s a textbook yellow card.
68 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Croatian changes
Mario Pašalić and Bruno Petković are on, with Livaja and Kramarić departing the field of play.
66 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Morocco are still 2-1 up against Canada in today’s other Group F fixture, meaning Belgium must win this match if they are to avoid crashing out of the tournament.
Follow all the updates from that game here.
Lukaku misses header
The striker has his head in his hands and you can understand why. De Bruyne had crossed it to him and he had the whole goal to aim at, but his header flew over the bar.
Looks like the ball may have gone out prior to the cross, so probably wouldn’t have counted.
64 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Lukaku hits the post!
Livaković out of position after a Carrasco shot is blocked, the ball falls to Lukaku who somehow hits the woodwork. All came from a mazy Carrasco dribble into the box.
62 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Belgium change
Thorgan Hazard is being introduced for the Belgians, with Trossard making way. He didn’t really get into the game today.
59 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium