Belgium went into the break locked at 0-0 with Croatia of their decisive Group F conflict on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.
Morocco lead Canada 2-1 at halftime within the different match within the pool and because it stands the African facet and Croatia are heading into the final 16.
Belgium made 4 adjustments to their facet, dropping skipper Eden Hazard and enjoying with Dries Mertens as a ‘false nine’, a change in techniques from supervisor Roberto Martinez.
Mertens had alternative when he was arrange by Kevin De Bruyne, however shot properly over the crossbar.
Croatia additionally had probabilities and was awarded a penalty when Andrej Kramaric was fouled by Yannick Carrasco nevertheless it was overturned on a VAR evaluate for an offside within the build-up.
Build-up
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez dropped captain Eden Hazard to the bench for his facet’s essential FIFA World Cup sport towards Croatia on Thursday.
The Real Madrid ahead was not noted of the XI as certainly one of 4 adjustments from the crew which began the shock 2-0 defeat by Morocco final weekend.
The Belgians performed down media stories of an altercation between senior gamers, together with Hazard, earlier this week, with Martinez calling the rumours “fake news”.
Belgium has to beat 2018 runners-up Croatia of their closing Group F match on the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium to make sure of qualification to the final 16.
Martinez additionally gave in-form Brighton attacker Leandro Trossard and veteran winger Dries Mertens their first begins of the event.
Leander Dendoncker changed the suspended Amadou Onana in midfield.
Striker Romelu Lukaku was once more solely match sufficient for a spot on the bench after making a short substitute look towards Morocco.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic named an unchanged beginning line-up after the spectacular 4-1 victory over Canada left them solely needing to keep away from defeat towards Belgium to undergo.
Morocco tackle already-eliminated Canada concurrently within the different final Group F sport, realizing a degree would safe a spot within the knockout section for the primary time since 1986.
Teams
Croatia (4-3-3):
Dominik Livakovic; Josip Juranovic, Dejan Lovren, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic; Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Marko Livaja
Coach: Zlatko Dalic (CRO)
Belgium (4-3-3):
Thibaut Courtois; Thomas Meunier, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Timothy Castagne; Axel Witsel, Leander Dendoncker, Kevin De Bruyne (capt); Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard, Dries Mertens
Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)
Referee: Anthony Taylor (ENG)
(With inout from companies)
Source: www.thehindu.com