The ball reached Romelu Lukaku right in front of Croatia’s goal with seconds remaining during their game at the FIFA World Cup on Thursday. If he had scored, Belgium would almost certainly have been into the round of 16, but somehow he missed, and Belgium and their aging generation of players were eliminated from the tournament after a scoreless draw with Croatia, who advanced as the second-place team in Group F behind Morocco.
Minutes after the game, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez announced that he would be leaving his role after more than six years — a decision he said he had reached before the World Cup started.
His departure could easily have been delayed.
Photo: AFP
Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer, but only recently back from injury, came on as a halftime substitute and squandered several great chances, the best coming in stoppage-time when Thorgan Hazard’s cross fell to him at the back post, barely 2m out. The ball struck Lukaku’s midriff and instead of rolling into the net, it bounced back across the front of the goal and was gathered by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Earlier, Lukaku hit the inside of the post with the goal virtually unguarded. Another chance, from a header in front of goal, sailed over the bar following a cross from Kevin de Bruyne.
Lukaku punched the side of the dugout as he walked off after the final whistle, knocking the plexiglass screen out of place. Moments earlier, he was sobbing in the arms of Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“We could have won this game by three goals and we’d be walking away feeling very different,” Martinez said. “I thought [Lukaku] moved very well, got in great situations, and what was missing was the finish. It was the difference between hitting the post and going in, and hitting the post and going out.”
Croatia booked a date to play Japan in the last 16.
“This is a team mix of experience and youth,” said Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic, who added of Belgium: “We were lucky that they didn’t take their chances.”
Belgium are facing the break-up of their talented but underachieving squad after failing to live up to their status as the second-ranked team at the tournament.
What has long been called Belgium’s “Golden Generation” — now featuring six players with more than 100 appearances — is set to split with a World Cup semi-final appearance in 2018 as its peak.
They scored only one goal in three games in Qatar
In Doha, Morocco’s players were celebrating almost as if they had already won the World Cup after a 2-1 win over Canada that clinched first place in the group.
Walid Regragui’s squad have now collected more victories at a single World Cup than all other Morocco teams combined.
“About 50 or 60 years of Moroccan history. We’ve done it in a few weeks,” Regragui said.
Morocco’s two wins in Qatar, a huge surprise over Belgium and then the victory over Canada at al-Thumama Stadium, is as many as the country had won in all of their previous World Cup appearances put together.
Morocco also drew their opener against Croatia to advance unbeaten.
“We trust in him,” Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi said of Regragui. “He’s done an amazing job with not much time.”
Goals by Hakim Ziyech and Youssef en-Nesyri delivered the victory over Canada. Nayef Aguerd’s own-goal made it 2-1.
As Group F winners, Morocco face Spain in the last 16.
One more victory will mean their first trip to the World Cup quarter-finals.
“Why not aim for the sky?” Regragui said. “Why not dream about lifting that trophy?”
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