[골닷컴] Reporter Kang Dong-hoon = Croatia made a plan looking forward to the final, promising to shake off the sadness of second place in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, the plan went awry from the first game. An easy win was expected, but a draw with Morocco signaled an uneasy start.
However, the atmosphere was immediately settled by defeating Canada 4-1 in the second match. And after a tough game against Belgium that day, they managed to progress to the round of 16. With this, they managed to progress to the knockout stage for the second consecutive World Cup in history and writing a new history.
Croatia failed to score 0-0 in the final Group F match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar group stage against Belgium held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Arrayyan, Qatar at 0:00 am (Korea time) on the 2nd .
Croatia, who won a draw that day, dropped to second place in Group F (1 win, 2 draws, 5 points), but managed to advance to the round of 16. Croatia has been to the final six times since independence, and this is the third knockout stage after the 1998 World Cup in France and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
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Coach Zlatko Daric (Croatia) brought out a 4-3-3 formation. Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur), Marco Libaya (Hayduk Split) and Andrei Kramaric (Hoffenheim) competed as a top three. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) and Luka Modric (Real Madrid) kept their backs.
From the left, Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Joshko Gbardiol (Leipzig), Dejan Lovren (Zenit), and Josip Yuranovic (Celtic) formed the back four. Goalkeeper gloves were worn by Dominic Rivakovic (Dinamo Zagreb).
Belgium came out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Leandro Trossar (Brighton & Hove Albion) was in the lead. Dread Mertens (Galatasaray), Yannick Carrasco, Axel Witzel (Above Atletico Madrid), and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) applied. The goal was saved by Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid).
Croatia had a chance from the start. Less than a minute after kick-off, Perisic attempted a shot, but it went wide of the goal. Belgium also fought back. Carrasco’s shot was blocked in the 11th minute. Two minutes later, De Bruyne connected a quick pass, but Mertens blew the chance away.
Croatia, who again took the initiative, seemed to have a chance to take the lead. In the 17th minute of the first half, a chaotic situation occurred in the process of competition in the box, and Kramaric won a penalty kick. However, the decision was overturned after video review (VAR). After that, no goals were scored as the game went into a lull, and the first half ended 0-0.
The coach Roberto Martinez (Spain) made the substitute first. With the start of the second half, Mertens was removed and Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) was brought on. Belgium took a chance after the change. In the third minute of the second half, Lukaku hit a shot with a header in front of Bruiner’s cross, but it went straight to goalkeeper Rivakovic.
Croatia counterattacked, and in the 5th minute of the first half, Kovacic’s shot, which received a forward pass from Gbardiol, was blocked by goalkeeper Courtois. Four minutes later, two decisive shots from Brozovic and Modric were also blocked as they went straight to Courtois.
Belgium missed a golden opportunity to score. In the 15th minute of the second half, The Bruiner’s quick penetrating pass was connected, and Carrasco’s hurried shot in front of the goal was blocked by the defensive wall. The ball’s second chance came, but Lukaku’s shot hit the right post.
Daric made changes to turn the tide. In the 19th minute of the second half, Mario Pasalich (Atalanta) and Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb) replaced Libaya and Kramachiri. Belgium also brought another card. In the 27th minute of the second half, Carrasco and Leander Dendonker (Aston Villa) were removed and Jeremy Doku (Stadren) and Yuri Thielemans (Leicester) were brought on.
Belgium blew their chances of progressing to the round of 16. In the 42nd minute of the second half, a cross was connected in front of the goal, and Lukaku got to his feet but missed. Three minutes later, Lukaku had a clear chance in front of the goal, but failed to hit the shot. In the end, the match between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw. Croatia progressed to the round of 16, and Belgium were eliminated from the group stage.
