Croatia vs Belgium – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2022 FIFA World Cup
THE FACTS
When is Croatia vs Belgium on and what time does it start? Croatia vs Belgium will take place on Thursday 1st December, 2022 – 15:00 (UK)
Where is Croatia vs Belgium taking place? Croatia vs Belgium will take place at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
Where can I get tickets for Croatia vs Belgium? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Croatia vs Belgium
What channel is Croatia vs Belgium on in the UK? Croatia vs Belgium will be televised live on BBC
Where can I stream Croatia vs Belgium in the UK? Croatia vs Belgium can be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app
THE LOWDOWN
CROATIA
- Croatia secured a 4-1 win over Canada in their second game of the tournament to ensure they head into the final round of matches sitting at the top of Group F but there is still work to be done to book their spot in the Round of 16.
- The Croatians need at least a point here to secure their place in the knockout stages but having performed so well against the Canadians, they look set to stick with the same starting XI from that contest.
BELGIUM
- Belgium are teetering on the edge of an embarrassing early exit from the 2022 FIFA World Cup after they were on the end of a shock loss to Morocco last time out and they now have it all to do if they are to remain in the tournament.
- The Belgians struggled to create chances for the second game in succession and were kept scoreless by the Moroccans which could force Roberto Martinez to push Romelu Lukaku into a starting role, despite the Inter Milan striker being short of match fitness.
THE TEAM NEWS
CROATIA
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Nikola Vlasic (Injured)
BELGIUM
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Courtois; Castagne, Vertonghen, Alderweireld; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Lukaku, E. Hazard
UNAVAILABLE: Amadou Onana (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Romelu Lukaku (Fitness)
THE KEY STATS
- Croatia have lost only one of their last nine FIFA World Cup matches (W5 D3)
- Croatia are unbeaten in their last five World Cup group stage matches (W4 D1). This is their longest run without a defeat in the group stage
- Croatia have lost only one of their last 18 international matches (W12 D5).
- Croatia won their previous two World Cup group stage matches against European opposition by the same score (2-1) - Italy 2002 and Iceland 2018
- Croatia have only failed to score in one of their last 13 World Cup matches
- Croatia have scored two or more goals in seven of their last nine World Cup matches
- Against Canada, Croatia scored four goals in a World Cup match for the second time. The previous time was in a 4-0 win over Cameroon in the group stage at Brazil 2014
- Belgium have won three of the last four international matches between these two nations (D1)
- Belgium have won four and drawn one of their last five World Cup group stage matches against European nations
- Belgium have kept four clean sheets in their last five World Cup group stage matches against European nations
- Belgium have won four of their last five World Cup matches against European nations (L1). The exception being their defeat against France in the semi-finals at Russia 2018
- Belgium have kept five clean sheets in their last eight World Cup matches against European nations
- Belgium have only failed to qualify in one of their last six participations in a World Cup group stage
- Prior to their defeat against Morocco, Belgium had won their last eight World Cup group stage matches, equalling the record of Brazil who achieved eight successive group stage wins on two occasions (1986-1994 and 2002-2010)
- Prior to their defeat against Morocco, Belgium were unbeaten in their last 13 group stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (W8 D5)
- Prior to their match against Morocco, Belgium have not failed to score in their last 12 World Cup group stage matches, since a 0-0 draw against the Netherlands in 1998
THE PREDICTION
Croatia moved to the brink of securing a spot in the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a convincing success over Canada. They fought back from going a goal down early in that contest and it would take a surprising series of events to prevent them from making it to the Round of 16. On the other hand, Belgium look set to suffer an early exit unless they can turn things around in this game and hope for some luck in the other group game. The Belgians have looked disjointed in both games so far and with Croatia unbeaten in their last eight games, Zlatko Dalic’s side should be able to earn the positive result they need to advance and in turn, dump Belgium out of the tournament.
TIP: CROATIA DRAW NO BET
