"The golden generation" Martinez defends Belgium and plays down unrest
Croatia and Belgium are facing off in a crucial Group F fixture at the 2022 World Cup.
Croatia come into the game top of the group with four points from their opening two matches after beating Canada and drawing with Morocco, and know that a draw will see them through to the last 16. Belgium also beat Canada but then lost to Morocco to leave them third in the group and on the brink of World Cup elimination.
Unless Canada thrash Morocco, then Belgium must win today in order to qualify for the knockout stages, but 2018 runners-up Croatia will not be easy to overcome. They have the easiest task, knowing that a draw guarantees them progression.
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Croatia vs Belgium
A landmark day for Thibaut Courtois as the 30-year-old, who made his Belgium debut in 2011, reaches 100 caps for Belgium.
He becomes the first keeper to reach this milestone for the men’s national side and seventh player overall after Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku.
Courtois has kept 49 clean sheets so far for the national team.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Croatia vs Belgium
Belgium have won their last two meetings with Croatia, with Romelu Lukaku netting all three of their goals in those victories.
However, Lukaku isn’t 100% fit and starts from the bench today.
Belgium on the brink as golden generation bid to keep last World Cup shot alive
It could be the end of an era for a generation. They are the golden generation who have not struck gold and probably never will now. And yet Roberto Martinez, with his remarkable gift for positivity, argued that, even with a group-stage exit from the World Cup, the greatest pool of players Belgium have ever had have achieved more than some champions.
“This generation haven’t won a major tournament but they’re leaving a legacy and that can go further,” the Belgium manager said. “This group of players deserve respect and admiration. We can win, draw or lose but the legacy of this generation is clear. The next 20 years will not be the same because of them.”
Martinez’s reasoning was multifaceted. “They got a bronze medal in 2018, they were four years the No 1 [ranked team by Fifa] and 21 of them have got their A Licences,” he said. “They are going to carry on affecting Belgian football from a coaching perspective for the next 20 years.”
An ageing Belgium must beat Croatia to stay in the World Cup or it could well be the final time we see many of this squad together on football’s greatest stage
Will Belgium get knocked out?
Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals at each of their last four major tournaments and won the third-place play-off at the 2018 World Cup against England.
They are the number two ranked side in the world behind Brazil and yet face the prospect of an early exit unless they defeat Croatia this afternoon.
Questions have arisen about the desire of the players, whether they are too old and if the ‘golden generation’ talent has been wasted following lacklustre displays against Canada and Morocco.
Roberto Martinez’s men can silence the critics with a stellar performance against Croatia in what is, on paper, the most difficult game of Group F.
Rumours of Belgium dressing room divide ‘invented'
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says that the rumours about a split within the Belgium dressing room, especially between the senior players, are just ‘invented stories’ due to the team’s struggle at the World Cup so far.
Head coach Roberto Martinez added that there is a "desire to find negative news" about his squad.
"Some people are quite happy to jump on fake news," Martinez said ahead of the game against Croatia.
"It is quite astonishing. It shows you that maybe there is more desire to find negative news about the team rather than enjoy the best generation of talent that we’ve ever had in Belgian football."
Belgium’s World Cup defeat by Morocco leads to riots on streets of Brussels
The incidents in the Belgian capital, which saw riot police deployed, followed the national football team’s surprise 2-0 loss to Morocco in Group F, a result that puts Roberto Martinez’s side on the brink of an early exit from the competition in Qatar.
The result led to violent riots in Brussels, which led to the deployment of riot police.
Photos and video footage show cars and other property being vandalised in the streets of the Belgian capital, with fires also lit in the roads.
Belgium suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Morocco to put them on the brink of a group-stage exit in Qatar
Croatia vs Belgium team changes
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic names an unchanged team to the one that defeated Canada 4-1 last time out.
Roberto Martinez meanwhile makes four changes to his Belgium side. The big news is the Eden Hazard drops to the bench along Thorgan Hazard and Michy Batshuayi. Amadu Onana is suspended.
Replacing them are Leander Dendoncker, Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard and Dries Mertens.
Croatia vs Belgium line-ups
Croatia XI: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic
Belgium XI: Courtois, Meunier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Castagne, Dendoncker, Witsel, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Trossard, Mertens
Today at the World Cup: Crunch time for Germany and history to be made
Four of Europe’s big guns face potential World Cup elimination on Thursday as Groups E and F are settled.
Germany are the side with most work to do as they head into their final Group E game against Costa Rica with just a point to their name. Group leaders Spain still have a job to finish against Japan, whose hopes are also still alive.
Belgium, one of the tournament’s big disappointments so far, have a tough task as they take on 2018 runners-up Croatia. There is a strong likelihood only one of those sides will progress as Morocco are well placed and need only a draw against already-eliminated Canada.
Here, we look ahead to the action and reviews the games on Wednesday which included notable wins for Argentina and Australia.
Morocco are looking to secure a place in the last 16 and need only a draw against Canada
Croatia vs Belgium prediction
Every World Cup seems to have a big-hitter that crashes out of the group stages and, barring a sudden turnaround, it looks set to be Belgium here.
They have been out-worked by both Morocco and Canada so far, while Croatia are always up for the fight. They have the quality, too, to knock Belgium out of the World Cup.