Belgium was eliminated from the World Cup in the group stage after a 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Following Morocco’s 2-1 victory over Canada in Group F, Belgium needed to win to advance to the last 16, while Croatia needed to avoid defeat.
A lackluster first half in which the only talking point was an overturned Croatia penalty gave way to a far more tense second half.
Romelu Lukaku came on at halftime and wasted a few big chances, hitting the post on one of them, but Belgium was eliminated.
Belgium were given an early reprieve when a penalty awarded for Yannick Carrasco’s challenge on Andrej Kramaric was overturned for offside against Dejan Lovren in the build-up as Luka Modric lined up to take it.
When Lukaku entered the game, it began to pick up steam, and less than three minutes after his introduction, the Inter striker forced Dominik Livakovic to make the game’s first save.In response, Croatia came alive, and Thibaut Courtois, who was earning his 100th cap, stopped Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Luka Modric by making three saves in the span of four minutes.
After Carrasco’s blocked shot fell nicely into his path, Lukaku first hit the post with plenty of space to shoot, then headed over from close range with the goal once again wide open – though VAR may have intervened even if he had scored.
The biggest miss was yet to come when Thorgan Hazard’s cross was missed by Lovren and Lukaku failed to head the ball over the goal line from a few yards away, eliminating Belgium and giving Croatia the victory over Morocco.
