In the most surprising group result yet, Morocco won a difficult Group F while 2018 World Cup runner-up Croatia advanced to the knockout stages at the expense of Belgium.
A 2–1 win for Morocco over Canada sent the Atlas Lions into the knockouts atop the group on seven points while a 0–0 draw between Croatia and Belgium meant the Red Devils are headed home with only four points to show for its trip to Qatar.
Belgium entered the tournament as the No. 2 team in the FIFA world rankings and was one of a handful of World Cup contenders with its golden generation prepared to make one last run at the trophy; but a loss to Morocco and the draw with Croatia sealed its fate.
All-time Belgium goalscorer Romelu Lukaku, who only played 10 World Cup minutes heading into the group finale due to an injury, created the lasting image of Belgium’s World Cup, leaving the field in tears after a series of late misses right in front of goal after entering as halftime sub.
Croatia, meanwhile, was happy to hold on for the draw, knowing that it would be enough. As the second-place finisher, Croatia will have to face Japan, the winner of Group E while Morocco will face Spain.
Right off the kickoff, Croatia nearly sped away with a dream start. Just eight seconds in, Ivan Perišić took a long ball over the top down on his right foot and curled an effort from the edge of the box that sailed just wide of the post.
In the other Group F match, Morocco scored in the fourth minute against Canada courtesy of Hakim Ziyech. A win for Morocco would see the Atlas Lions through to the group stage with the possibility of winning the group depending on Croatia’s outcome.
Dries Mertens was given a dangerous chance on the counterattack in the 13th minute when he was played through by Kevin De Bruyne, but Mertens was leaning back too much on his shot and sent the chance over the crossbar.
Croatia was awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when Yannick Carrasco brought down Andrej Kramarić inside the box during a clearance. But as Luka Modrić stepped to the spot, referee Anthony Taylor was called over for a VAR review, which negated the penalty chance for an offside in the buildup.
In the other Group F match, Morocco took a 2–0 lead over Canada in the 23rd minute. Barring a Canada comeback win, the result would mean Belgium needs a win to advance to the knockouts.
Marko Livaja nearly gave Croatia the lead in the 33rd minute when Borna Sosa sent a cross into the box, but Livaja’s header slipped just over the bar.
Canada pulled a goal back in the other Group F match in the 40th minute when Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd conceded an own goal. But a 2–1 result (or a draw) would have no effect on Belgium’s chances of advancing with the Red Devils needing a win if Morocco won or drew.
To start the half, knowing it needed a win, Belgium brought Lukaku off the bench for an extra dose of firepower. After a series of easy saves from Thibaut Courtois, Lukaku had multiple chances in front of goal that Belgium might regret. In the 60th minute, Carrasco sent a shot on target that was saved and sent back into the box, where Lukaku launched the rebound off the post.
Two minutes later, Lukaku had an open header off a De Bruyne cross directly in front of goal, but the forward somehow sent the chance over the goal, perhaps a sign of his rustiness due to the lingering injury. However, the ball was later ruled out of play before De Bruyne launched his cross in.
In the 77th minute, Bruno Petković unleashed Perišić with an incredible flick outside of the box, but Jan Vertonghen arrived in the knick of time to stop the chance.
Twice in the series of three minutes as the game wound down, Lukaku had some of Belgium’s best chances of the game again. In the 87th minute, he sent Thomas Meunier’s cross just wide despite an open chance. In the 90th, Lukaku saw Thorgan Hazard’s cross deflect off his chest and just into the hands of the goalkeeper.
The final Group F standings played out with Morocco on seven points, Croatia in second with five points followed by Belgium with four points and Canada rounding out the group without a point.
Here were the lineups for both teams:
Full World Cup squads
Croatia
GOALKEEPERS: Ivo Grbić (Atlético Madrid), Ivica Ivušic (Osijek), Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb)
DEFENDERS: Borna Barišić (Rangers), Martin Erlić (Sassuolo), Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Josip Juranović (Celtic), Dejan Lovren (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josip Staničić (Bayern Munich), Josip Šutalo (Dinamo Zagreb), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens)
MIDFIELDERS: Marcelo Brozović (Inter Milan), Kristijan Jakić (Eintracht Frankfurt), Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Luka Sušić (Salzburg), Nikola Vlašić (Torino)
FORWARDS: Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split), Mislav Oršić (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Perišić (Tottenham), Bruno Petković (Dinamo Zagreb)
Belgium
GOALKEEPERS: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge)
DEFENDERS: Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Timothy Castagne (Leicester)
MIDFIELDERS: Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Amadou Onana (Everton), Youri Tielemans (Belgium), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid),
