The Croatian national football team lost to Belgium in the first of two preparatory games before the start of the World Cup with a score of 0:2 in Rujevica.
Croatia ran into composition: Livaković, Šutalo, Vušković, Guardiol, Stanišić, Modrić, Kovačić. Perišić, Baturina, P. Sučić, Musa. Starting 11 Belgium: Courtois, Ngoy, Raskin, Theate, Saelemaekers, Onana, Tielemans, De Cuyper, De Bruyne, Doku, De Ketelaere.
Vatreni had their first chance in the 11th minute when Musa sends a shot from the top of the penalty area, but shoots over the goal. The Croatian football players played a great action in the 19th minute, but Belgium defended itself. De Cuyper took a free kick in the 31st minute in the danger zone for Croatia after violation of Vušković over Doku. It was a good position for the visitors, but the ball goes far away from Livaković’s goal.
Belgium is up to the lead 0:1 arrived in the 38th minute over Tielemans who scored from a rebound. He brilliantly passed Doka on the left side, crossed into the middle, and the ball bounced off Šutal to the Belgian representative who put the guests in the lead.
The Croats quickly tried to fight back, Modric shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 42nd minute, but it was brilliantly saved by Curtois. There were no more goals until the end of the half.
Dalić made six substitutions in the 58th minute. Budimir, Mario and Marco Pašalić, Pongracić, Luka Sučić and Kotarski entered, and Musa, Kovačić, Stanišić, Guardiol, Modrić and Livaković left. In the continuation of the match, he had the first serious opportunity Ante Budimir to Luka Sučić’s cross in the 60th minute, but Budimir hits the crossbar.
The Belgium coach makes five changes in the 67th minute. In came Vanaken, De Winter, Meunier, Seys and Mechele, and out went De Bruyne, Saelemaekers, De Cuyper, Onana and Ngoy. On the other hand, Dalić brought on Šutal, Baturina, Perišić and Petr Sučić in the 71st minute, and Jakić, Vlašić, Moro and Kramarić came on.
Belgium also had a beam in the 74th minute when he shot Vanaken with only a few meters, but the rest was 0:1. Marco Pašalić scored a great attempt in the 88th minute, but he sent the ball just wide of the goal.
When it seemed that there would be no more excitement until the end of the meeting, Lukaku scored for the final 0:2 in the last seconds of the match.
Fiery in Sunday in Varaždin they play the last game before going to the World Cup, against of Slovenia.
(www.jabuka.tv | Nel Pavletic/PIXSELL)
