[ad_1]
Belgium have been knocked out of the World Cup following a poor 0-0 draw in opposition to Croatia on Thursday.
Roberto Martinez’s aspect wanted a win in opposition to the 2018 World Cup finalists to progress previous the group stage, however they have been unable to search out the again of the online.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)
Captain Eden Hazard was dropped for the beginning of the match, and Romelu Lukaku got here on to overlook 4 massive possibilities as Belgium’s World Cup journey got here to disappointing finish.
Croatia advance into the spherical of 16 however qualify in second place after Morocco completed high of the group with a 2-1 win over Canada.
“It isn’t simple to win video games within the World Cup,” Martinez advised BBC after the sport. “We weren’t ourselves in first recreation we had a deserved defeat in second recreation.
“In the present day we have been prepared, we created alternatives and at the moment there isn’t a regrets. We’re out however we are able to depart with our heads held excessive.”
Croatia dominated from the primary whistle and had an opportunity contained in the opening 20 seconds however Ivan Perisic blazed his shot over the bar.
Belgium responded with a swift counterattack after 14 minutes however Dries Mertens was unable to search out the goal after a superb by means of ball from Kevin de Bruyne.
Lower than a minute later, Croatia have been awarded a penalty when Yannick Carrasco was adjudged to have introduced down Andrej Kramaric inside the world.
With Luka Modric making ready to take the spot-kick, referee Anthony Taylor was despatched to the monitor by the VAR, and the choice was overturned for an offside within the buildup.
The remainder of the half turned out to be a tense affair, however the recreation got here to life after the break.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was known as into motion early on and prevented Croatia on three separate events.
Lukaku was introduced on within the second half, and the Inter Milan striker missed two massive possibilities in fast succession.
Simply after the hour mark, Lukaku reacted first to a rebound and managed to strike the publish from shut vary with the goalkeeper out of place.
The striker then headed one other simple effort over the bar with the objective at his mercy.
It was not Lukaku’s night time — the striker went on to overlook one other two open objectives as Croatia survived Belgium’s late assaults.
Source link