Belgium finally get must-win game against Croatia
Martinez’s side would have preferred showdown four years ago, but this match is also important
When Belgium were beaten by France in their 2018 World Cup semi-final there was some grumbling that the better team had lost and the so-called golden generation had been robbed of their place in the final against Croatia.
Fast-forward four years and Belgium will get the chance to show what might have been against the Croats in a Group F encounter tonight (11pm, Hong Kong time) that may lack the prestige of the tournament’s showpiece finale but remains an acutely important game for both sides.
The group is finely balanced. Croatia are top, level on four points with Morocco and a point clear of Belgium with three, while bottom side Canada’s hopes have already been extinguished.
Belgium, ranked second in the world, must win to guarantee their place in the last 16, while 2018 runners-up Croatia need only a point to ensure they will remain in Qatar beyond the group stage.
Roberto Martinez’s side have been among the most disappointing of the favourites so far, with a narrow win over Canada and a humbling 2-0 defeat by Morocco, leading to questions about whether this generation of Belgian gold has lost its lustre.
This was seemingly the view of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who was quoted in an interview with The Guardian dismissing his side’s chances at the tournament because “we’re too old”.
They are certainly not the oldest squad at the tournament, that honour goes to Iran, but there are concerns about the fitness and form of some key stalwarts.
Eden Hazard’s lack of playing time at Real Madrid this season, where he has started only one LaLiga game, has left him searching for match sharpness, while striker Romelu Lukaku, who came on in the 81st minute against Morocco, is another who is not up to speed.
Martinez pointed more to psychological aspects than physical in his postmortem following their defeat to Morocco. “We have to stay together now and become stronger. I know this group, we will be ready for Croatia,” he said.
An invigorated Moroccan team will be seeking to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in nearly four
We have to ... become stronger. I know this group, we will be ready for Croatia
BELGIUM COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ
decades by defeating or drawing with Canada in their final Group F match tonight (also at 11pm, Hong Kong time).
In their final group stage test, Canada will be looking to bag their first win in the tournament’s history after being eliminated from their first World Cup in 36 years.
A win or draw would help Morocco to their first appearance in the round of 16 since 1986. If Canada prevail, Morocco will need Belgium to beat Croatia in the other Group F match, with the goal difference determining if they or the 2018 runners-up advance.
“If we get through to the knockout stage, I think we will be very dangerous going forward,” Moroccan manager Walid Regragui said.