Croatia vs Belgium live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Group F match as Lukaku misses two great chances

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Croatia and Belgium meet at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium knowing that one of the two heavyweights of Group F could be heading for the World Cup exit door.

In what is their ninth meeting at international level, there is plenty on the line in this one, as both chase the win that will likely be needed to guarantee a spot in the Round of 16.

Belgium were widely expected to lead the pack in this group — they were the No.2-ranked nation in the world heading into the Qatar tournament after all — but a surprise defeat to Morocco last time out has left them on the brink.

Croatia’s ageing squad may be past its best, but with Luka Modric still pulling the strings in midfield they remain a potent threat.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Croatia vs Belgium at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group F match in Qatar.

MORE: Follow Canada vs Morocco live

Croatia vs Belgium live score

  1H 2H Final
Costa Rica 0 — —
Germany 0 — —

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 14. Livaja (16. Petkovic 64′), 9. Kramaric (15. Pasalic 64′), 4. Perisic

Belgium lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1. Courtois — 19. Dendoncker (8. Tielemans 72′), 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, — 15. Meunier (10. E. Hazard 87′), 6. Witsel 7. De Bruyne, 21. Castagne —  17. Trossard (16. T. Hazard 59′), 11. Carrasco (25. Doku 72′) — 14. Mertens (9. Lukaku 46′)

Team PTS GP W L D GF GA GD
1. Croatia 4 2 1 0 1 4 1 +3
2. Morocco 4 2 1 0 1 2 0 +2
3. Belgium 3 2 1 1 0 1 2 -1
4. Canada–E 0 2 0 2 0 1 5 -4

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (US only free trial)

Croatia vs Belgium live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

87 mins: Another chance for Romelu Lukaku, with Thomas Meunier fizzing the ball across goal and it just hitting the substitute before bouncing behind.

One last throw of the dice for Belgium, Eden Hazard replacing Thomas Meunier for the final stages.

83 mins: Josko Gvardiol has to thank his lucky stars for Dominik Livakovic’s positioning as he stretches to cut out a pass and sends the ball spinning towards his own goal. Fortunately for Croatia, it’s straight at the keeper.

82 mins: One of the great strengths of this Croatia side is keeping the ball, and they’ve done that superbly in the last few minutes. Belgium simply can’t get it off them.

79 mins: Ivan Perisic has been another impressive Croatia performer today, whipping in a cross towards Marko Pasalic at the back post and it takes a fine Timothy Castagne header to clear the danger.

77 mins: Josko Gvardiol has been an absolute colossus at the back for Croatia today, making two interceptions and a headed clearance in short order as Belgium try to find a way through.

75 mins: Some tense faces around the stadium as time ticks down for Belgium, with Morocco still in front against Canada.

72 mins: Belgium throw on two more attack-minded players, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku coming on.

70 mins: We’re into the final 20 minutes and time is ticking relentlessly away from Belgium.

67 mins: Bruno Petkovic has made a difference for Croatia already, helping the ball on towards Luka Modric, but the ball is bouncing awkwardly and he’s unable to get enough on his effort to trouble Thibaut Courtois.

64 mins: Double change for Croatia now, Marko Pasalic and Bruno Petkovic coming on for Andrej Kramaric and Marko Livaja.

CHANCE! 62 mins: This is an even easier chance for Romelu Lukaku! Dominik Livakovic makes a real mess of Kevin De Bruyne’s cross and presents the Belgkum striker with an open goal, but he heads over! 

That said, a replay suggests De Bruyne hadn’t managed to keep the ball in play anyway, so maybe Lukaku’s blushes would have been spared.

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POST! 60 mins: How’s this not gone in?! Kevin De Bruyne’s pass sets Yannick Carraso racing into the penalty area and, though Josip Juranovic makes a fine block, the ball breaks for Romelu Lukaku, but he can’t get enough curl on his right-foot shot and the ball hits the left post!

(US only)

59 mins: Another change for Belgium, Thorgan Hazard replacing Leandro Trossard with just over half an hour to go.

57 mins: After a brief flurry from Belgium at the start of this second half, Croatia have looked the more likely side to find a breakthrough.

54 mins: Croatia going up through the gears now and against Thibaut Courtois is called into action, diving to his left to save from Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.

53 mins: Much better in this second half, Borna Sosa’s fine pass to Marko Livaja setting up a chance for Mateo Kovacic to find Marcelo Brozovic, whose shot is fierce but too close to Thibaut Courtois.

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50 mins: Croatia’s turn to threaten, Josko Gvardiol finding Mateo Kovacic on the left side of the area. The Chelsea midfielder tries to give Thibaut Courtois the eyes before firing towards the near post but the goalkeeper is alert and stretches to push over.

48 mins: Important interception from Josko Gvardiol to cut out Kevin De Bruyne’s cross from the right with Romelu Lukaku lurking. From the corner, Belgium recycle the ball and De Bruyne finds Lukaku at the far post, the substitute heading straight at Dominik Livakovic.

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46 mins: A halftime change for Belgium and no real surprise to see Romelu Lukaku introduced in place of Dries Mertens, who struggled in the first period.

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HALFTIME No goals at the break and in truth not enough threat from either side. Dries Mertens blazed over from Belgium’s best chance while Croatia were denied a penalty by the narrowest of offside calls at the other end.

45+4 mins: The ball bounces around the Belgium penalty area and falls kindly for Josip Juranovic, but he cannot keep his volley down.

45 mins: We’ll have four minutes added on at the end of this first half. 

44 mins: Another promising ball across the Croatia goalmouth, this time from Kevin De Bruyne, but Dries Mertens is unable to get there while no midfielder had gambled either.

42 mins: That’s better from Belgium as Thomas Meunier slips a pass to the overlapping Leander Dendoncker down the right. The defender does well to keep the ball in and send it across goal, where Josko Gvardiol gets a crucial little touch to take it away from Dries Mertens.

39 mins: There’s been a shortage of quality with the final pass from both sides, with a certain sloppiness in attacking areas. Possession turned over far too often.

36 mins: That’s great work from Ivan Perisic, sliding in to prevent Leandro Trossard’s pass from finding Kevin De Bruyne on the right.

33 mins: Borna Sosa delivers a decent cross from the left and Marko Livaja climbs to meet it, but his header loops just too high.

31 mins: Here’s a spell of possession for Belgium inside the Croatia half, but they’re unable to make any real progress. It’s all a bit too slow, with too many touches.

27 mins: Belgium are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment, Axel Witsel meeting Luka Modric’s corner from the left with a firm header, but there’s no one to hold the ball up and it’s coming straight back each time.

24 mins: Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku share a joke on the bench, but this is no laughing matter for Belgium. Morocco have doubled their lead against Canada, and it’s looking increasingly like this is a must-win for Belgium.

21 mins: Belgium might have got fortunate with that penalty, but it hasn’t changed the direction of the play in the slightest, Croatia still looking the more dangerous and getting a lot of joy in wide areas around Belgium’s narrow midfield.

NO PENALTY! 18 mins: But hold on! After a long, long VAR check, referee Anthony Taylor is sent to the monitor and, after reviewing the pictures himself, decides there was an offside as that free-kick came in. A real break for Belgium.

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PENALTY TO CROATIA! 15 mins: Jan Vertonghen heads clear but Yannick Carrasco’s touch is poor and, in trying to regain possession, he fouls Andrej Kramaric. What a chance for Croatia to take the lead!

13 mins: Oh, what a chance. Kevin De Bruyne lead a Belgium counterattack and as ever picks the right pass, looking for Dries Mertens on his left, but the finish is all wrong and the ball sails over the crossbar.

(US only)

11 mins: Croatia are furious as Dries Mertens springs their offside trap and rolls the ball across goal for Yannick Carrasco, Dominik Livakovic rushing off his line to block. It looks like Josip Juranovic was playing him onside from the replay.

10 mins: Better from Yannick Carrasco, who comes in off the left flank on to his right, Marcelo Brozovic getting in the way of his shot.

Toby Alderweireld’s long pass then looks for Dries Mertens inside the Croatia area, but he’s crowded out. Better from Belgium though.

9 mins: Croatia are showing more urgency and dynamism in this first ten minutes. There’s a lethargy around Belgium’s play; they’ve been second to everything so far.

6 mins: News coming through from the other Group F game, where Morocco have taken an early lead against Canada. That takes them to the top of the section and means a draw would not be enough for Belgium to stay in the competition.

3 mins: Belgium looking really shaky in defence in these opening exchanges. Giving the ball away frequently and an air of panic when they’re under pressure. Need to settle and quickly.

1 min: What a start that would have been! Within ten seconds of kickoff, Luka Modric is floating a perfect pass with the outside of his boot to Ivan Perisic, who cuts on to his right foot and flashes a side just past the post of a diving Thibaut Courtois.

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KICKOFF: Croatia get us started and this concluding Group F fixture is underway.

A reminder of how we stand. Belgium are third at kickoff on three points, one behind both Croatia and Morocco, and must win to make sure of a place in the round of 16. A draw would be enough for Croatia, but it would leave Belgium needing Canada to beat Morocco.

3 mins from kickoff: Will these two be central figures today?

5 mins from kickoff: The teams emerge on to the pitch and line up for the anthems. Plenty of tense faces around.

10 mins from kickoff: All the focus on the starting lineups but we’ve seen plenty of substitutes make an impact at World Cup 2022 and Romelu Lukaku could yet have his say off the bench.

15 mins from kickoff: Belgium making their final preparations.

20 mins from kickoff: This could be a last World Cup game for some big, big names…

25 mins from kickoff: This is the ninth game between Croatia and Belgium, but the first at a major tournament. Each side has three wins from the past eight fixtures, Romelu Lukaku scoring the only goal of their last meeting, a friendly on 6 June 2021.

30 mins from kickoff: Croatia’s red and white checks are everywhere you look!

40 mins from kickoff: Thibaut Courtois is set to win his 100th cap for Belgium. He will be the seventh player to reach a century with the previous six all in their squad for World Cup 2022: Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku.

50 mins from kickoff: Belgium under big pressure this afternoon, so it’s moody faces all round.

55 mins from kickoff: Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has decided against making wholesale changes, meaning starts for veterans Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic in an unchanged lineup.

Roberto Martinez has dropped Eden and Thorgan Hazard, with Yannick Carrasco and Leandro Trossard coming into the advanced midfield roles and Kevin De Bruyne dropping back alongside Axel Witsel as Leander Dendoncker starts on the right of a back three. Dries Mertens replaces Michy Batshuayi up front, Romelu Lukaku again starting on the bench.

1 hr 5 mins from kickoff: With 65 minutes to go till the first whistle, the teams have just been confirmed…

1 hr 10 mins from kickoff: A view inside the Belgium dressing room, where everything is looking on point!

1 hr 20 mins from kickoff: The venue certainly doesn’t need bigging up for this one:

1hr 30 mins from kick off: A nice easy explainer here from the FIFA World Cup guys as to who needs what, with kick off now 90 minutes away.

2hrs from kick off: That means we’ll get the official teamsheets in one hour. The fans are starting to arrive at the stadium.

2hrs 30 mins from kick off: Tottenham star Ivan Perisic is sounding confident about Croatia’s chances today – and for good reason, given that 4-1 hammering of Canada last time out. With Belgium vulnerable, you feel like the Croatians are in the driving seat for this one.

3hrs from kick off: If this game ends in a draw today, Croatia will be through, but Belgium would need Canada to beat Morocco by at least two goals to have a chance. Martinez’s have to win, in which case Croatia would require a Moroccan defeat in the other game.

3hrs 30 mins from kick off: Some early team news for you, with Croatia expected to be unchanged from the side that hammered Canada 4-1 last time out. Nikola Vlasic is again likely to miss out due to injury, with Luka Modric expected to start despite being on a booking.

Belgium are without Amadou Onana due to suspension so Youri Tielemans may come back into their midfield. Romelu Lukaku might be fit enough to start.

Here’s a piece on the expected starting lineups for both sides.

Luka Modric (L) and Romelu Lukaku

4hrs from kick off: Croatia and Belgium both have some serious World Cup pedigree. But with Morocco in pole position to qualify, you suspect something will have to give today, between two of 2018’s semi-finalists.

4hrs, 30 mins from kick off: Kevin de Bruyne has already denounced Belgium’s chances of winning this World Cup, admitting many of their squad is too old and that 2018 was their biggest chances. Roberto Martinez has also claimed there is a ‘desire for negative news’ around his team.

It all adds up to a bit of discontent within the Belgian camp, on the eve of this vital clash.

5hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of this Group F showdown between Croatia and Belgium. This one is the battle of the nearly-men. Croatia were ‘nearly’ the World Cup winners in 2018, while Belgium have been touted for years as a side with the individual talent to go on and dominate one the biggest stage, but they have never delivered. Today could be the latest chapter in that story, as they chase the win they need just to qualify for the knockouts. Stay tuned, as this could be action-packed!

Croatia vs Belgium lineups, team news

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic decided against refreshing his side for this game to allow his experienced campaigners the chance to have a much-needed break, with Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric among the players to start in an unchanged lineup

Nikola Vlasic came off the bench against Canada, as part of his return to full fitness, but is again among the substitutes with Marko Livaja and Perisic again flanking Andrej Kramaric up front.

Croatia lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Livakovic — 22. Juranovic, 6. Lovren, 20. Gvardiol, 19. Sosa — 10. Modric, 11. Brozovic, 8. Kovacic — 14. Livaja, 9. Kramaric, 4. Perisic

Roberto Martinez has made four changes as his Belgium side enter the last-chance saloon. 

With Amadou Onana suspended Leander Dendoncker starts, and it looks like Kevin De Bruyne will drop back alongside Axel Witsel into central midfield with both Eden Hazard and brother Thorgan dropped. Leandro Trossard and Yannick Carrasco come in while Romelu Lukaku is still not fit to start despite a cameo off the bench against Morocco so Dries Mertens replaces Michy Batshuayi up front.

Belgium lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1. Courtois — 19. Dendoncker, 2. Alderweireld, 5. Vertonghen, — 15. Meunier, 6. Witsel 7. De Bruyne, 21. Castagne —  17. Trossard, 11. Carrasco — 14. Mertens

Croatia vs Belgium live stream, TV channel

This final Group F match will be played at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Thurs, Dec. 1 10:00 ET Fox
Telemundo		 fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Thurs, Dec. 1 10:00 ET TSN , RDS 2 (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK Thurs, Dec. 1 15:00 GMT BBC One BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
Australia Fri, Dec. 2 02:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Thurs, Dec. 1 20:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Thurs, Dec. 1 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 616, 618) Now TV
Malaysia Thurs, Dec. 1 23:00 MYT Astro FIFA World Cup 1 Astro GO
Singapore Thurs, Dec. 1 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup,
Singtel FIFA World Cup 141		 Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Fri, Dec. 2 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 7 beIN Sports Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

Watch the match on fuboTV in USA:

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