Lukaku missed, Croatia into Last 16 in goalless draw with Belgium

FIFA World Cup 2022: Lukaku missed chances, Croatia into Last 16 in goalless draw with Belgium, Player ratings.




Returns from injury and missed many chances, Romelu Lukaku Bad Luck, as Belgium's 'golden generation' were knocked out of the World Cup, ends the match in a goalless draw 0-0 with Croatia sending the 2018 runners-up into the last 16 with Group F winners Morocco.



Earlier -- Zlatko Dalic's side took victory against Canada lead them to four points; Martinez's side could qualify if winless Canada defeat Morocco by four or more goals in the other group game, Strange.

In third place four years ago and number one in the world rankings until recently, Roberto Martinez's team struggled to keep up in Qatar. Despite a second-half improvement that gave Romelu Lukaku several scoring opportunities, they were unable to secure the victory they required as Morocco defeated Canada.



The goalkeeper was beat to a loose ball by Josko Gvardiol from a similar distance after halftime substitution Lukaku shot against the inside of the post with the goal gaping, headed over from a Kevin De Bruyne cross, flicked wide from close range, chested the ball to the goalkeeper from inside the six-yard box, and flicked wide from close range.



At the end of the game, Belgium's all-time leading scorer sobbed in the arms of coach Thierry Henry before furiously punching a panel out of the dugout.

However, his teammates had once again performed poorly, with only a very close, later-reviewed offside call preventing Croatia from receiving a penalty in the first half and Thibaut Courtois being put to the test in the second.



World Cup 2022 Fantasy football: Croatia 0-0 Belgium, Player ratings




1. Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic 6; Juranovic 6, Lovren 6, Gvardiol 8, Sosa 5; Brozovic 7, Modric 7, Kovacic 7; Kramaric 6, Livaja 6, Perisic 6. Subs: Pasalic 6, Petkovic 7

Subs: Grabic, Ivusic, Erlic, Sutalo, Barisic, Vida, Stanisic, Majer, Jakic, Vlasic, Sucic, Orsic, Budimir

Manager: Zlatko Dalic - 7/10 -


2. Belgium (4-2-3-1) : Courtois 7; Dendoncker 6, Vertonghen 6, Alderweireld 6; Meunier 5, De Bruyne 6, Witsel 6, Castagne 6; Trossard 5, Mertens 5, Carrasco 7.

Subs: Lukaku 7, Thorgan Hazard 6, Tielemans 6, Doku 6

Subs: Mignolet, Casteels, Theate, Debast, Faes, De Ketelaere, Vanaken, Batshuayi, Openda

Manager: Roberto Martinez - 1/10 -



Player of the Match - Josko Gvardiol (CRO)



Belgium Agony, Croatia Supremacy, Opta Key Stats.




Belgium have failed to progress to the knockout stages of a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1998.

Belgium scored one goal at this World Cup - in 19 previous participations at major tournaments (World Cup + Euros), they have only scored fewer goals once (1930 World Cup - 0).

Belgium have failed to score in consecutive World Cup matches for first time since 1982 against Poland and USSR.

Belgium have won just one of their last five games in all competitions (D1 L3), while this was their first goalless draw since June 2018 against Portugal, playing 61 matches in between.

Belgium named a starting XI with an average age of 31 years and 95 days for this match, the oldest for any side at the World Cup since Australia vs Germany in 2010 (31 years, 118 days).

Thibaut Courtois made his 100th international appearance in this match, becoming the first goalkeeper to do so for Belgium's men's team, and the seventh player overall after Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku.






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