Belgium meet Croatia in Group F at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Thursday to fight for a last 16 place. But who played with Jan Vertonghen in the last Red Devils XI to beat Vatreni?
A draw is enough for Croatia to take their place in the knockout stages while Belgium must win to advance. Vatreni enter the game atop the Group F table but only on goal difference to Morocco, who face Canada. The Red Devils sit in third but just one point from the top two.
Croatia kicked off their Qatar 2022 campaign with a goalless draw against Morocco before beating Canada 4-1. While Belgium only just edged the Maple Leafs 1-0 before deservedly losing 2-0 to the Atlas Lions. Now, Roberto Martinez’s side are at risk of an early trip home.
Belgium are deservedly behind Croatia and Morocco at the 2022 World Cup
Belgium arrived in the Middle East for the first World Cup held in the Arab world as the #2 ranked FIFA nation. Yet Martinez’s side have not performed anywhere near the levels that were expected. Instead, they have been laboursome and lacking creativity for large periods.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois must also feel he ought to have done better to deny Morocco their opening goal against Belgium. The Real Madrid ace let Abdelhamid Sabiri’s inswinging free-kick beat him at the stopper’s near post, despite him having a clean line of sight at it.
Now, Belgium must beat Croatia to make the knockout stages as a draw is very unlikely to be enough. The Red Devils would need to score at least one goal against Vatreni and hope Canada also beat Morocco. But the Maple Leafs might have to win 4-0 to help Belgium out.
Belgium have a strong recent record against Croatia after winning their last game
Belgium have a strong record against Croatia in their recent meetings, though. Martinez’s squad won the last meeting between the two nations 1-0 in a friendly in June 2021. Their win extended a three-game unbeaten run dating back to 2010 after a draw and a 2-1 win.
Croatia’s 1-0 result in March 2010 was their third win over Belgium across all competitions so far. Vatreni have also held the Red Devils, who also sit on three wins, to two draws thus far. Thursday’s tie will be their first match at a World Cup after four qualifying encounters.
Both nations have won a World Cup and European Championship qualifier, plus a friendly, each. Their two draws also occurred in World Cup qualifiers in 2000 and 2012. While only Croatia’s 4-0 Euro qualifier win in 2003 featured more than three combined goals, as well.
A sole goal from Romelu Lukaku on 38 minutes secured Belgium the win in their last clash with Croatia. The nations met in a warm-up fixture for Euro 2000, which was settled when Lukaku scrambled the ball home. But the Red Devils made far more chances than Vatreni.
Lukaku and Carrasco could start as Belgium look to repeat their win over Croatia
Lukaku, Yannick Carrasco and Nacer Chadli, in particular, created chances that should have secured Belgium a merited result. But Croatia stopper Dominik Livakovic pulled off a solid stop on the goal-line to deny Lukaku. Carrasco and Chadli would send their attempts wide.
Lukaku and Carrasco may now start on Thursday when Belgium meet Croatia knowing that a win is realistically their only chance to make the Round of 16 at the Qatar World Cup. So, who else started the last time that Martinez’s Red Devils squad beat Vatreni in June 2021?
Thibaut Courtois (GK): Martinez will hope Morocco woke his shot-stopper up
Martinez will hope Morocco woke Courtois up after the Belgium stopper covered himself in no glory after conceding Sabiri’s free-kick. The 30-year-old will also likely want to make amends against Croatia. The Group F match will be Courtois’ 100th cap for the Red Devils.
Jan Vertonghen (CB): 145 caps and out for the former Tottenham hero?
Vertonghen has played every minute of Belgium’s World Cup efforts so far and can get his 145th cap against Croatia. The 35-year-old Anderlecht ace was a year removed from eight years at Tottenham Hotspur for 315 games when the Red Devils last met and beat Vatreni.
Toby Alderweireld (CB): Tottenham sold the defender after Euro 2020
Toby Alderweireld lined up alongside his former Tottenham teammate Vertonghen to help Belgium beat Croatia 1-0 in June 2021. The 33-year-old then left Spurs after Euro 2020 and joined Al-Duhail. But the 126-cap defender returned to Europe at Royal Antwerp this July.
Jason Denayer (CB): Martinez has dropped the Shabab Dubai defender
Jason Denayer amassed 35 caps for Belgium between March 2015 and 2022 but has fallen completely out of Martinez’s plans. His status has also decreased in line with his exit from Lyon over this summer. The 27-year-old is now in the UAE Pro League with Shabab Dubai.
Timothy Castagne (RM): Martinez has moved the Leicester man around in Qatar
Martinez has moved Timothy Castagne around in Qatar with minutes on the right of their midfield and in defence. Failing to hold down one set position has been a frequent trend in the 26-year-old’s international career. He has made all 28 caps under Martinez since 2018.
Youri Tielemans (CM): The Leicester star has not had a great Qatar 2022 so far
Youri Tielemans has not enjoyed a great time at Qatar 2022. Martinez hauled the Leicester City midfielder off at half-time against Canada. The Spaniard then dropped the 57-cap star to his bench against Morocco. But Tielemans would enter the game for the final half-hour.
Leander Dendoncker (CM): Could Martinez recall the Belgian against Croatia?
Martinez may consider recalling Leander Dendoncker to the Belgium XI against Croatia this Thursday. The Aston Villa midfielder started their opening fixture with Canada for his 30th cap to date. But the 27-year-old then played no part in the Red Devils’ defeat to Morocco.
Nacer Chadli (LM): The KVC Westerlo loanee has played twice since Euro 2020
Chadli started the last time that Belgium beat Croatia during their last friendly before Euro 2020. Yet Martinez only utilised the 66-cap star twice during the European Championship. The 33-year-old KVC Westerlo loanee has not made a squad since losing the quarter-final.
Dries Mertens (RW): The Galatasaray ace is 15 caps and two years without a goal
Dries Mertens has now gone two years and 15 caps without scoring a goal for Belgium in any competition. He last found the net in November 2020 against England in the Nations League. The 108-cap forward has also only laid on two assists in his last 15 appearances.
Romelu Lukaku (ST): Belgium need the Inter Milan loanee to score against Croatia
Lukaku secured Belgium the win in their last clash with Croatia with his 60th international goal. The 103-cap striker has since taken his tally in a Red Devils shirt to 68 – including four during Euro 2020. Martinez now needs the 29-year-old to create another win over Vatreni.
Yannick Carrasco (LW): The Atletico Madrid man may not start on Thursday
Carrasco started the last time that Belgium beat Croatia and opened their first Group F tie at Qatar 2022. Yet his handball gifted Canada the penalty that Alphonso Davies missed in the ninth minute. Martinez then hauled Carrasco off at the break and has not used him since.
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