Bye bye Belgium

Croatia send belgium out after goalless draw, morocco through

CROATIA reached the last 16 of the World Cup after holding a stuttering Belgium to a 0-0 draw, sending their European world No. 2 rivals out with barely a whimper. Morocco edged Canada 2-1 to finish top of Group F on seven points, two more than Croatia, to advance from the group stages for a second time – 36 years after they became the first African country to do so at Mexico in 1986.

CROATIA laboured into the last 16 of the World Cup after holding a stuttering Belgium to a 0-0 draw, sending their European rivals’ “golden generation” out of the tournament with barely a whimper.

The result saw Zlatko Dalic’s men qualify in second place in Group F behind Morocco, who beat already eliminated Canada 2-1 in the other game to secure top spot.

Neither side had a shot on target in a dour first half and Belgium brought on striker Romelu Lukaku at the break, but it was Croatia who sprang into life, with Marcelo Brozovic and Luka Modric drawing saves from Thibaut Courtois in quick succession.

Lukaku rattled the post with a fierce shot from close range on the hour as Belgium pushed desperately for the goal that would send them through, but Croatia held firm to extend their unbeaten run in the World Cup group stage to six matches.

In the other match, two first-half goals set Morocco on their way to top place in Group F but they had to hold on for a 2-1 win over Canada at the Al Thumama Stadium after conceding an own goal that kept them nervous through the second half.

Morocco finished on seven points, two more than runners-up Croatia, to advance from the group stages for a second time, 36 years after they became the first African country to do so at the Mexico World Cup in 1986.

A goalkeeping howler allowed Hakim Ziyech to score after four minutes, followed by a second in the 23rd minute from Youssef En-nesyri, running onto a superb long pass from Achraf Hakimi.

But Nayef Aguerd stuck out a toe to deflect a cross from Sam Adekugbe into his own net five minutes before the break to offer already-eliminated Canada a chance to get back in the game and win a first World Cup point.

Canada came close to a second-half equaliser but proved unable to make the breakthrough. — Reuters

Red Devils’ horror show: Belgium’s Leander Dendoncker and Romelu Lukaku react to a missed chance against Croatia in the 0-0 draw. inset: Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech (bottom) is hugged by teammates after scoring in their 2-1 win over Canada. — AFP/AP

— AFP/AP It’s too fast: canada’s Steven Vitoria (right) and goalkeeper dayne St clair watch the ball during the Group F match against morocco at the al-thumama Stadium. Below: belgium’s Thorgan Hazard (left) vying for the ball with croatia’s ivan Perisic.