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FIFA World Cup 2022 LIVE: Croatia vs Belgium scores - Red Devils heading home as things stand

World Cup / Group Stage
Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium / 01.12.2022
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Matt Jones

Updated 01/12/2022 at 17:00 GMT


14:55
HERE COME THE TEAMS
Croatia and Belgium walk out into the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, serenaded, as they always dreamt they would be, by Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' blasting out over the PA system
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14:54
A BIT OF NEEDLE
There's still plenty of bad blood between Ghana and Uruguay after the latter controversially defeated the former in the 2010 World Cup. Luis Suarez was the main protagonist, and he's been speaking ahead of the re-match
14:50
THEIR WORLD CUP RECORDS
This is Croatia's 6th World Cup and they have reached the semi-finals twice, including in 1998 when they were inspired by Davor Suker. 1998, ironically, is the last time Belgium were eliminated in the group stages. They too reached the semi-finals in Russia four years ago before losing to eventual champions France
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14:46
ONANA SUSPENDED
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana is suspended for Belgium after picking up yellow cards in their opening two games. How will that impact Roberto Martinez's side?
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14:42
THE HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Niko Kranjcar (remember him?) was the last player to score a winning goal for Croatia against Belgium, during a 1-0 win in 2010. They've met three times since, with the Red Devils coming out on top twice
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14:38
ROCKET EXITS SCOTTISH OPEN
There've been some huge shocks in the Scottish Open - will we see any more this afternoon? Find out here
14:35
STILL NO LUKAKU FOR BELGIUM
Given the players at their disposal, I think everyone agrees that Belgium are underperforming. But it still seems bizarre that their record goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku, sits on the bench for the third game running
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14:30
THE PERUTATIONS
Croatia are top of the group on four points, with Morocco in second. You'd expect the latter to win today against Canada, which means whoever picks up three points in this one goes through. Croatia, in fact, only need a draw to progress
14:26
AN EYE ELSEWHERE
As is customary, the other game in this group kicks off at the same time, as Canada face Morcco. There's a lot riding on it. Follow all the action by clicking the link below
14:22
BELGIUM DROP CAPTAIN HAZARD
Belgium are on the brink of being knocked out after their 2-0 loss to Morocco, and Roberto Martinez has wrung the changes in a desperate attempt to get a win. Four players drop out - Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Michy Batshuayi and Amadou Onana, with Leander Dendoncker, Leandro Trossard, Dries Mertens, Yannick Carrasco their replacements
14:20
CROATIA UNCHANGED
Croatia came from behind to beat Canada 4-1 in their last match, and, unsurprisingly, manager Zlatko Dalić names an unchanged side from that game
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14:18
TEAM NEWS
CROATIA: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Brozovic, Modric, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic
Subs: Grabic, Ivusic, Erlic, Sutalo, Barisic, Vida, Stanisic, Majer, Jakic, Pasalic, Vlasic, Sucic, Orsic, Petkovic, Budimir
BELGIUM: Courtois; Dendoncker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Castagne; Trossard, Mertens, Carrasco
Subs: Mignolet, Casteels, Theate, Debast, Faes, Thorgan Hazard, De Ketelaere, Vanaken, Tielemans, Eden Hazard, Doku, Batshuayi, Lukaku, Openda
14:16
GOOD AFTERNOON!
Hello and welcome to this afternoon's World Cup offering - and it's a big 'un! Croatia face Belgium, both semi-finalists last time, with the round-of-16 on the line. Team news coming up!
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