"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.
Follow all the World Cup action below:
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
3 mins: Belgium are settling down after that early chance. A long ball is booted up the pitch and is beautifully brought down by Leandro Trossard.
He spins away from a challenge and looks to pick out Yannick Carrasco on the edge of the box but his pass gets intercepted.
Kick off: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Croatia get the ball rolling in this crucial World Cup group stage outing. Whoever loses is likely to go home.
The ball comes over to Luka Modric who fires a long diagonal over to Ivan Perisic on the left side of the penalty area. Perisic brings the ball down, rolls it onto his right foot and blasts one wide of the far post!
Massive chance straightaway for Croatia!
Croatia vs Belgium
Here come the teams.
Luka Modric leads out Croatia with Kevin De Bruyne captaining Belgium after Eden Hazard was dropped to the bench. Belgium have never lost back-to-back matches under Roberto Martinez but if they do so tonight they’ll be out of the World Cup.
Modric’s last ride?
37-year-old Luka Modric is appearing in his fourth World Cup. The midfielder is a five-time Champions League winner and helped his country reach the World Cup final in Russia four years ago.
But, this could be his final outing in the World Cup if things don’t go well for Croatia today.
(AFP via Getty Images)
‘We’re too old’: Jan Vertonghen hits back at Kevin De Bruyne amid reports of Belgium bust-up
Veteran defender Jan Vertonghen has hit back at Kevin De Bruyne’s claim that Belgium are “too old” to win the World Cup, amid reports of a major dressing room bust-up following their chastening defeat at the hands of Morocco on Monday.
Belgium went down 2-0 to an impressive Morocco performance to leave themselves third in Group F with one game to play, a crucial showdown against group leaders Croatia.
Roberto Martinez’s side were the world’s No1 ranked side as recently as last year but their golden generation of talent is coming towards the end of its cycle and there is concern over the lack of suitable young replacements for stalwarts like the 35-year-old Vertonghen and his defensive partner Toby Alderweireld, 33.
Reports suggest an altercation took place in the dressing room between senior players after Belgium’s disappointing defeat by Morocco
Croatia vs Belgium
Croatia have only lost two of their 10 meetings with fellow European nations at World Cups (W6, D2), with both of those coming against France (1998 semi-final, 2018 final).
Their only defeat in 18 matches in all competitions (W12, D5) was a 3-0 Nations League loss to Austria in June.
Croatia vs Belgium
The fans have made their way to the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium where one of these two teams is likely to get knocked out of the World Cup at the expense of the other.
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
World Cup results: The scores so far from Qatar 2022
The 2022 World Cup is in full swing as 32 nations began on 20 November aiming to lift the Jules Rimet trophy in Doha on 18 December.
The tournament is the first Fifa men’s World Cup to play out in the northern hemisphere’s winter, after it was moved from its original summer scheduling to combat Qatar’s intense heat.
Brazil came into tournament as the slight favourites to win the World Cup ahead of their South American rivals Argentina. The most fancied European nations at the start of the competition were England, Spain, France and Germany, with Belgium and Netherlands also considered dark horses. As the African champions, Senegal were considered Africa’s best hope of delivering a first World Cup for the continent.
The tournament has not been without controversy, from the mid-season scheduling which has seen a raft of injuries in the lead-up to kick-off, to the broader picture of Qatar’s exploitation of migrant workers in order to build the stadiums and infrastructure required to host the four-week event. Fifa president Gianni Infantino only added fuel to the fire when he gave his extraordinary pre-tournament speech, and what has followed has been vigorous debate around showing support for LGBTQ+ rights in a conservative Islamic country where homosexuality is illegal.
Despite the off-field issues, the players on the pitch have still served up an entertaining tournament, with goals, shocks, twists and turns.
Every result so far at the World Cup in Qatar
Group F permutations
Croatia are through if they win or draw against Belgium whilst Morocco are through if they win or draw against Canada.
Belgium will qualify for the last 16 with victory over Croatia and Canada can’t progress although they can win their first ever points on the World Cup stage.
‘The Golden Generation’ of Belgium will step up on World Cup stage
Belgium may not be weighed down by history – but that doesn’t make expectation levels any less hefty.
Roberto Martinez’s side have been the number one side in the world for most of the four years between the last World Cup in Russia and this tournament in Qatar.
They’ve also reached the last eight of every major tournament since 2014, but have yet to make a major final. Their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup is, to date, the best achievement by a side who many would consider to be capable of so much more.
Their most recent brush with disappointment came at last year’s Euros, after an epic clash with Italy at Munich’s Allianz Arena. It’s a game that Belgian boss, Roberto Martinez, remains convinced could have gone either way.
The Red Devils have the individual talent to make them the envy of many in Qatar but have so far flattered to deceive when it comes to the biggest moments at major tournaments
