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Croatia vs Belgium Final Scores, Highlights, 2022 World Cup Group F Match Results

December 1, 2022
Croatia vs Belgium Live: World Cup Scores, Highlights, 2022 Group F Match Results
Croatia Vs Belgium (E-Techno Help – US News Today/ Getty Images)

Croatia and Belgium face off at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium as one of Group F’s two heavyweights could be headed for a World Cup exit.

There is plenty on the line in what will be their ninth meeting at the international level, as both are chasing a win that will likely be needed to secure a place in the round of 16.

Belgium was widely expected to lead the pack in this group – they were the world’s No.2-ranked nation at the Qatar tournament – but a shock defeat to Morocco last time out left them on the sidelines.

Croatia’s aging squad may have had their best, but with Luka Modric pulling the strings in midfield, they remain a formidable threat.

More:

Croatia Squad World Cup 2022 Qatar

Belgium Squad World Cup 2022 Qatar

Croatia vs Belgium Live Score

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Goals:

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Estimated lineups:

Croatia predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic – 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Guardiola, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 13. Vlasic , 9. Kramaric, 16. Petkovic

Belgium’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Courtois – 15. Meunier, 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, 21. Castagne — 6. Witsel, 8. Tielemans — 7. De Bruyne, 10. E. Hazard, 16. T. Hazard – 9. Lukaku

Croatia vs Belgium Live Updates, 2022 World Cup Highlights

Fulltime: It’s all over and Croatia is waiting for a point to take them from Group F! Belgium failed to find significant success and Morocco’s win against Canada meant they failed to get out of their group at the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

90+2 mins: We’re four minutes into added time and a sensational Josco Guardiola challenge on Romelu Lukaku prevents the striker from getting a shot in front of goal.

90 min: It won’t just go for Romelu Lukaku! Jeremy Doku’s driving run created a chance for Thorgan Hazard to whip in a cross but Lukaku didn’t react in time after Dejan Lovren missed, only for Dominik Livakovic to gather the ball.

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87 min: Another chance for Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Meunier fizzes the ball across goal and beats a substitute before bouncing back.

One last throw of the dice for Belgium, Eden Hazard replaced Thomas Meunier for the final leg.

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83 min: Josko Guardiola has to thank his lucky stars for the positioning of Dominik Livakovic as he stretches to intercept the pass and head the ball toward his own goal. Fortunately for Croatia, it’s straight at the keeper.

82 min: The big strength of this Croatia side is possession, and they’ve done that brilliantly in the last few minutes. Belgium can’t get rid of them.

79 min: Ivan Perisic has been another impressive Croatia performer today, whipping in a cross towards Marko Pasalic at the back post and it takes Timothée Castagna’s fine header to clear the danger.

77 min: Josco Guardiola has been an absolute colossus at the back for Croatia today, making two interceptions and a headed clearance in short order as the Belgian tries to find a way through.

75 min: Some tense faces around the stadium as time runs out for Belgium, Morocco is still ahead against Canada.

72 min: Belgium throw on two more attacking players, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku.

70 mins: We’re into the final 20 minutes and time is ticking relentlessly from Belgium.

67 min: Bruno Petkovic has already made the difference for Croatia, helping the ball toward Luka Modric, but the ball is bouncing awkwardly and he is unable to get far enough to trouble Thibaut Courtois.

64 min: Double change for Croatia now, Marko Pasalic and Bruno Petkovic coming on for Andrej Kramaric and Marko Livaja.

62 min: Chance! It’s an even easier chance for Romelu Lukaku! Dominik Livakovic makes a real mess of Kevin De Bruyne’s cross and presents the Belgium striker with an open goal, but he heads over!

That said, a replay suggests De Bruyne wouldn’t have managed to keep the ball in play anyway, so Lukaku’s blushes may have been spared.

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60 mins: POST! How did it not go in?! Kevin De Bruyne’s pass brought Yannick Carasso into the penalty area and despite a good block by Josip Juranovic, the ball broke for Romelu Lukaku, but he couldn’t get enough curl on his right-footed shot and the ball hit the left post. !

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59 mins: Another change for Belgium, with Thorgan Hazard replacing Leandro Trossard with just over half an hour to go.

57 min: After a brief flurry from Belgium early in the second half, Croatia looks the more likely side to find success.

54 min: Croatia is going up the gears now and is called into action against Thibaut Courtois, diving to his left to save from Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.

53 min: Much better in this second half, Borna Sosa’s good pass to Marco Livazza gives Mateo Kovacic the chance to find Marcelo Brozovic, whose shot is hard at Thibaut Courtois.

50 min: Croatia’s turn to threaten, Josko Guardiola finds Mateo Kovacic on the left side of the area. The Chelsea midfielder tries to eye Thibaut Courtois before firing toward the near post but the goalkeeper remains alert and stretches to push over.

48 mins: Crucial block from Josco Guardiola as Romelu Lukaku sneaks in to cut out Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from the right. From the corner, the Belgian recycled the ball, and De Bruyne found Lukaku at the far post, with the substitute heading straight at Dominik Livakovic.

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46 mins: Halftime changes for Belgium and no surprise to see Romelu Lukaku introduced in place of Dries Mertens, who struggled in the first period.

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Half-Time: There was no goal and in truth, there was not enough threat from either side. Dries Mertens converted an excellent chance for Belgium, while at the other end Croatia had a penalty disallowed in the shortest possible time of an offside call.

45+4 min: The ball bounces around the Belgian penalty area and falls kindly for Josip Juranovic, but he can’t keep his volley down.

45 mins: We have four minutes added to the end of this first half.

44 min: Another promising ball into Croatia’s goalmouth, this time from Kevin De Bruyne, but Dries Mertens is unable to get there while neither midfielder has gambled.

42 min: It’s good from Belgium as Thomas Meunier passes the overlapping Leander Dendanker down the right. The defender does well to keep the ball in and send it into goal, where Josco Guardiola gets a vital little touch to take it away from Dries Mertens.

39 mins: There has been a lack of quality with the final pass from both sides, with definite sloppiness in attacking areas. Possession was returned several times.

36 min: It’s great to work from Ivan Perisic, sliding in to prevent Leandro Trossard’s pass from finding Kevin De Bruyne on the right.

33 min: Borna Sosa delivers a decent cross from the left and Marco Livza rises to meet it, but his header is too high.

31 min: Belgium’s spell of possession inside Croatia’s half is here, but they are unable to make any real progress. With so many touches, it’s all very slow.

27 min: Belgium is struggling to get out of their own half this time, Axel Witsel meets Luka Modric’s corner with a powerful header from the left, but there’s no one to hold the ball and it’s coming straight back each time.

24 min: Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku share a joke on the bench, but it’s no laughing matter for Belgium. Morocco doubled their lead against Canada, and it looked like a must-win for Belgium.

21 min: Belgium may have been lucky with that penalty, but it hasn’t changed the direction of the game one bit, with Croatia still looking dangerous and having plenty of fun in the wide areas around Belgium’s narrow midfield.

18 mins: No penalty! But hold on! After a long, long VAR check, referee Anthony Taylor is sent to the monitor and, after reviewing the pictures, decides that there was offside after the free-kick. A real break for Belgium.

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15 min: Penalty to Croatia! Jan Vertonghen heads clear but Yannick Carrasco’s touch is poor and, to regain possession, he fouls Andrej Kramaric. What a chance for Croatia to take the lead!

13 mins: Oh, what a chance. Kevin De Bruyne led the Belgian counterattack and always picked a right pass, looking for Dries Mertens on his left, but the finish was all wrong and the ball flew over the crossbar.

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11 min: Croatia are furious as Dries Mertens catches his offside trap and crosses the ball for Yannick Carrasco, Dominik Livakovic rushing to block off his line. It looked like Josip Juranovic was playing him off the replay.

10 min: Good from Yannick Carrasco, who comes in from the left flank to his right, Marcelo Brozovic getting in the way of his shot.

Toby Alderweireld’s long pass then finds Dries Mertens inside the Croatia area, but he is crowded out. Nice from Belgium though.

9 min: Croatia are showing more urgency and dynamism in this first ten minutes. There is a lull around the Belgian game; They have been second in everything so far.

6 min: News from another Group F game, where Morocco have taken an early lead against Canada. That takes them to the top of the section and means it won’t be enough for Belgium to stay in contention.

3 min: Belgium look really shaky in defense in these opening exchanges. Giving the ball away frequently and an air of panic when under pressure. Needs to be resolved quickly.

1 min: What a start it was! Within ten seconds of the kickoff, Luka Modric floats a superb pass with the outside of his boot to Ivan Perisic, who cuts onto his right foot and fires just past the diving Thibaut Courtois’ post.

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KICKOFF: Croatia kick us off and get this closing Group F game underway.

A reminder of how we stand. Belgium is third on three points from the kickoff, behind both Croatia and Morocco, and must win to secure a place in the round of 16. A draw would be enough for Croatia, but that would leave Canada with Belgium to beat Morocco.

Croatia vs Belgium lineup, team news

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic is likely to freshen up his side for this game to give his veteran campaigners a much-needed break, with Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic among those who could be rested on the bench.

Nikola Vlasic came off the bench against Canada, as part of his return to full fitness, and the Torino loanee could start alongside Bruno Petkovic.

Croatia predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic – 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Guardiola, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 13. Vlasic , 9. Kramaric, 16. Petkovic

Roberto Martinez is also considering changes as his Belgian side enter the last-chance salon.

Leicester City star Youri Tielemans is expected to return to midfield in place of the suspended Amadou Onana, but after a cameo from the bench against Morocco, Romelu Lukaku’s fitness will be a big call. Martinez also has the chance to abandon his long-used 3-4-3 to unlock Belgium’s attacking potential.

Belgium’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Courtois – 15. Meunier, 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, 21. Castagne — 6. Witsel, 8. Tielemans — 7. De Bruyne, 10. E. Hazard, 16. T. Hazard – 9. Lukaku

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