Belgium, the world’s second-ranked facet, noticed their run of reaching a minimum of the quarterfinals at 4 straight main tournaments come to an abrupt finish.
Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Axel Witsel react after the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F soccer match between Croatia and Belgium on the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on 1 December 2022. Picture: OZAN KOSE/AFP
DOHA – Romelu Lukaku missed a string of late probabilities as Belgium crashed out of the World Cup within the group stage after a 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday which despatched the 2018 runners-up into the knockout part.
Croatia had a penalty award controversially cancelled by VAR early in a largely uneventful first half.
The introduction of Lukaku on the interval modified the sport, however he was responsible of three dreadful misses as Zlatko Dalic’s facet rode their luck to carry on.
Croatia progressed as runners-up in Group F behind winners Morocco who beat Canada 2-1 to additionally qualify for the final 16.
Belgium, the world’s second-ranked facet, noticed their run of reaching a minimum of the quarterfinals at 4 straight main tournaments come to an abrupt finish.
Roberto Martinez’s males managed only one purpose within the event in a lucky opening 1-0 win over Canada.
Martinez dropped captain Eden Hazard to the bench as one of 4 adjustments which additionally noticed Leandro Trossard and Dries Mertens begin for the primary time in Qatar.
The build-up to the match had been dominated by rumours of an altercation between senior Belgian gamers, involving Eden Hazard, which Martinez described as “fake news”.
Croatia virtually took the lead inside the primary 10 seconds, because the ball was performed ahead to Ivan Perisic after kick-off and the Tottenham man minimize inside and drilled a shot simply broad of the far publish.
The probability of Belgium needing to win was elevated when Morocco scored an early purpose throughout Doha. Yannick Carrasco had an opportunity to open the scoring however his shot was blocked.
PENALTY OVERTURNED
Mertens curled over after a trademark Kevin De Bruyne run and move, earlier than Croatia had been awarded a penalty seconds later when Carrasco tripped Andrej Kramaric within the field.
But the choice was overturned following a prolonged VAR examine which determined {that a} tiny fraction of Dejan Lovren’s shoulder was offside.
Desperate for a purpose after a primary half by which neither facet mustered a shot heading in the right direction, Martinez despatched on Lukaku, Belgium’s file scorer, for Mertens at half-time.
They instantly carried extra menace, with Lukaku, who struggled with damage within the build-up to the event, heading straight at Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Thibaut Courtois was then known as into motion for the primary time, stretching to tip over Mateo Kovacic’s curling effort as the sport opened up.
That additionally suited the Croatian attackers although and Courtois needed to twice get right down to hold out low photographs from Marcelo Brozovic and Luka Modric.
Belgium ought to have taken the lead on the hour mark.
Carrasco virtually bundled the ball in however was denied by Livakovic, earlier than Lukaku contrived to hit the publish with the purpose gaping on the rebound.
Lukaku was responsible of a good worse miss two minutes later, heading over an empty web from six yards out, though replays advised the ball could have been out of play when De Bruyne crossed it in.
Martinez additionally threw on Thorgan Hazard, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku as Belgium looked for that each one essential purpose.
Lukaku noticed one other probability come and go within the 87th minute, deflecting the ball broad from Thomas Meunier’s volley.
The striker, on mortgage at Inter Milan from Chelsea, nonetheless had one other golden alternative to be the hero, however he opted to chest the ball in direction of the open web from three yards out and directed it into the arms of Livakovic.