Croatia advance to the final 16 from Group F alongside Morocco after stalemate.
Belgium have crashed out of the World Cup following a 0-0 draw with Croatia, marking a bitter finish for the nation’s so-called “Golden Era” of stars.
Coach Roberto Martinez’s aspect, ranked the second finest on this planet by FIFA, failed to seek out any fluency in Thursday’s conflict on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and their determined second-half makes an attempt to interrupt the impasse finally got here to nothing.
Neither aspect had a shot on the right track in a dour first half and Belgium introduced on striker Romelu Lukaku on the break, nevertheless it was Croatia who sprang into life, with Marcelo Brozovic and Luka Modric drawing saves from Thibaut Courtois in fast succession.
Lukaku then rattled the put up with a fierce shot from shut vary on the hour mark as Belgium pushed desperately for the purpose that may ship them via.
He went on to waste a number of extra goalmouth alternatives because the clock ticked towards full-time, displaying a scarcity of match sharpness following a protracted interval out with damage.
The stalemate left the Crimson Devils stranded in third place in Group F, with Croatia one spot above them and Morocco ending high of the pile following their 2-1 win over Canada.
The 2018 runners-up will face the winners of Group E – which may very well be Spain, Japan or Costa Rica – on Monday.
Morocco, who’ve reached the knockout phases for the primary time since 1986, will play the runners-up from Group E, which additionally consists of 4 time champions Germany, the next day.
‘Golden technology’s disappointing conclusion
What has lengthy been referred to as Belgium’s “Golden Era” – now that includes six gamers with greater than 100 appearances – is about to separate up with the World Cup semifinal look in 2018 as its peak.
In contrast to their spectacular exhibiting 4 years in the past in Russia, The Crimson Devils managed only one purpose on this 12 months’s event in a lucky opening 1-0 win over Canada.
In a bid to spark his squad to life, Martinez dropped captain Eden Hazard to the bench as considered one of 4 modifications to the aspect on Thursday which additionally noticed Leandro Trossard and Dries Mertens begin for the primary time in Qatar.
However their build-up to the match was marred by rumours of infighting between senior gamers throughout the event – stories Martinez had dismissed as “pretend information”.
The 49-year-old, who has been in cost for greater than six years, was requested after the sport if he’ll stay as coach within the wake of his aspect’s forgetful marketing campaign.
“Now will not be the second [to discuss that],” he answered.