Belgium are set to face Croatia tonight and are hoping to beat them in order to go onto the last 16. The Belgian are one of those teams which looks really strong and scary at least on paper but their performance in this year’s World cup has been slightly off as it seems. They came into the 2022 edition as the 3rd best team from the previous edition as they lost to the eventual champions France in semi-finals.
They were expected to come out as an even better side this time around but their performances suggest otherwise. During last year’s UEFA Euros, Belgium were favorites to win the continental silverware but again crashed out against eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals.
This year at the World cup, Belgium kicked-off their campaign against a Canadian side that lost all of their 4 previous matches without scoring a goal. Rightfully so, Belgium were able to win 1-0 with Michy Batshuayi scoring the only goal in the match.
⚔️ Belgium vs Croatia. #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/T2kQ1feAZL
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) December 1, 2022
However, the attacking threat they posses, the final score line of 1-0 doesn’t do justice but we will get to that later. The Belgian Red devils faced Morocco in their following World cup match and what happened was a slap in their face. Belgium’s shocking loss was Morocco’s first victory in 5 previous World cup games and it also ended the Europeans’ 8 match unbeaten streak.
Now think of this, the last time Morocco won a match without conceding a goal was way back in 1998 against Scotland by 3-0. Morocco’s high-pressing led to two goals and Belgium were just collecting the pieces. They failed to take the easy route and now Belgium will have to upset the table toppers in order to reach the next round of the World cup.
Their opponents are 2018 World cup’s finalists Croatia, who are high on confidence after their 4-1 win against Canada. There isn’t much to worry about as history and head-to-head suggests that Belgium might got a “chance” but so does Croatia.
Their defensive unit looks sorted with Josip Juranovic playing from the right and versatile Borna Sosa operating as the left back. Former Liverpool Center-back Dejan Lovren comes with a lot of experience and he knows what it is to play against Kevin De Bryune, Eden Hazard and co. RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol has immense potential of becoming one of the best defenders in future and he has showed it already. He has played both of Croatia’s world cup games, registered 166 passes with a passing accuracy 88% alongside 8 clearances, 5 interceptions, 2 blocked shots and won 7/10 duels.
Modric, Brozovic and Kovacic will be in their midfield while Andrej Kramaric, Marko Livaja and Ivan Perisic will take care of the attacking front.
Belgium’s soul less performance against Morocco was a wake up call for Roberto Martinez, who will be forced to make a change tonight with Youri Tielemans coming in for suspended Amadou Onana. Romelu Lukaku is expected to start instead of Michy Batshuayi given the former’s record against Croatia.
Firstly, these two European nations are facing each other at the grandest stage for the first time and the stakes are higher than ever because the chance to play at the round of 16 is on the line. Secondly, Roberto Martinez might look to Romelu Lukaku as he has scored all of their goals against Croatia in last 2 meetings.
Head-to-Head record between Belgium and Croatia
September 2, 2000: Croatia 0-0 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
October 6. 2001: Croatia 1-0 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
March 29, 2003: Croatia 4-0 Belgium (UEFA European Championship Qualifiers)
September 10, 2003: Croatia 1-2 Belgium (UEFA European Championship Qualifiers)
March 3, 2010: Croatia 1-0 Belgium (International Friendly)
September 11, 2012: Croatia 1-1 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
October 11, 2013: Croatia 1-2 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
June 6, 2021: Croatia 0-1 Belgium (International Friendly)
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