Croatia vs Belgium 0-0: World Cup 2022 – as it happened

We’re finishing our coverage of the stalemate between Belgium and Croatia, with attention turning to our two remaining games today. We have coverage of Costa Rica vs Germany and Japan vs Spain bubbling away, with less than two hours to kickoff.

Bye for now.

The Croats will play the winner of Group E after finishing runners-up, with their likely next opponents being Spain. However, it’s still possible Japan or Costa Rica top the group if either of them can spring a surprise later.

No player has missed more Big Chances at the entire 2022 World Cup than Romelu Lukaku did in 45 minutes against Croatia (4). 😳@midnite | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/O3DM7KiMEs

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 1, 2022

He has barely played any football in the last few months, but all of Belgium’s chances seemed to fall at his feet. It is hard to be too critical of the striker, as a lot of the damage for his team was done before today.

Belgium had enough chances to win the game several times over, but somehow it finishes goalless. Lukaku appears to be in tears after missing a few golden chances, but Croatia hung on in the end.

Zlatko Dalic’s team played a dangerous game hanging on for a draw and placing second in Group F, but they’re through to the last 16.

Read the match report here.

Lukaku looks like he’s got a huge opportunity in the box, but the Croatian defender slides to intervene at the last moment. Massive tackle.

90+3 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Kovačić comes off, Majer comes on in his place.

90+2 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

My word, he needs to put this away. Thorgan Hazard gets a high ball across the box that evades the keeper. Romelu Lukaku has an open goal at the back post but the ball bounces off his chest and into the arms of Dominik Livaković.

Four minutes added on.

91 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

The 31-year-old attacker is on for Meunier. Can he inspire his team to get a goal?

89 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

It comes at him quickly and there’s not much more he can do, but the flick he gets on Meunier’s ball goes wide.

88 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

The defender gets his foot on a long ball over his head, and it ends up flying at his own goal. Thankfully it’s straight at his keeper, who collects with the referee saying it was not a back pass.

85 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

They seem happy enough to play for the draw and go through as the second-placed team in this group. It could turn nasty for them with one Belgian goal, though, as they would crash out in that case.

Josip Juranović goes on the overlap on their right side but his cut back misses the entire attack.

82 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

The 20-year-old has performed like a much more experienced player in the centre of Croatia’s defence. Thorgan Hazard tries to go past him and gets denied, and moments later clears the lines with a strong header.

78 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

This World Cup is the last shot for that crop of excellent players that came through Belgium ranks about 10 years ago. But as it stands, they’re facing elimination and have never lifted silverware of note for the national team.

76 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Tielemans and Doku come on for Belgium, with Dendoncker and Carrasco departing.

73 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

With just over 20 minutes of normal time to go, here are the key match statistics so far.

The 37-year-old does well to get a shot away on a bouncing ball, but it ends up in the arms of Thibaut Courtois. Much better game we have now.

69 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

His sliding challenge on Kovačić is late and it’s a textbook yellow card.

68 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium

Mario Pašalić and Bruno Petković are on, with Livaja and Kramarić departing the field of play.

66 mins: Croatia 0-0 Belgium