Belgium crashed out of the World Cup after they spurned several good chances in a goalless draw with Croatia.
Roberto Martinez’s team needed to win to advance to the last-16 but couldn’t capitalise, with Romelu Lukaku guilty of missing three sitters in the second-half.
It means that Croatia advance into the knockout rounds as runners-up to Morocco, whose 2-1 win over Canada saw them top Group F.
Sportsmail runs the rule over each player in the Croatia vs Belgium clash in our ratings.
Romelu Lukaku missed a series of excellent openings as Belgium crashed out the World Cup
CROATIA
Dominik Livakovic – Was buffeted by high balls into his penalty area, especially during the second-half as desperation crept into Belgium’s game. Dealt with them impeccably until the late one that Dejan Lovren also failed to deal with and was grateful to see the ball bounce off Lukaku’s knee into his arms. 6
Josip Juranovic – Made a significant block to deny Yannick Carrasco when through on goal during the second-half and won his battle with the Atletico Madrid man as Croatia held firm. 6.5
Dejan Lovren – Won the majority of his aerial battles with Lukaku having been more severely tested after he came on than in the first-half. A couple of moments of alarm aside, helped his country through to the last-16. 6.5
Josko Gvardiol – Showed precisely why he is attracting the attention of some of Europe’s leading clubs with an outstanding performance. The little touch to take the ball off Lukaku’s toes when he seemed certain to win it late on was the slim margin between a last-16 place and a flight home. But it was just one of many occasions when he stepped in and stepped up for his team. 9
Josko Gvardiol was excellent, making a crucial tackle when Lukaku was about to score
Borna Sosa – Marauded forward at every opportunity but rarely had an end product with his crosses, which were too close to the goalkeeper, or his woefully mishit shots from range. Unfortunately his attacking intentions did allow spare for Dries Mertens and others. 6
Luka Modric – By no means his most brilliant performance but showed the usual class with some of his awareness and passing. Was livid at seeing Croatia’s first-half penalty overturned for the most marginal of offsides as he was about to take it. Will be thrilled to reach the knockout phase in his final World Cup. 6.5
Luka Modric didn’t have his most brilliant game but he helped Croatia through to the last-16
Marcelo Brozovic – Aided the back line whenever called upon and in a solid manner. Carried a threat when he was able to ghost into space on the edge of the Belgian box and forced a stop from Thibaut Courtois with one low effort. 6
Mateo Kovacic – Just wasn’t able to dictate the game as he would have liked to have done because Belgium succeeded in crowding the midfield. Was more effective in the second-half when spaces opened up without making a telling contribution. 6
Andrej Kramaric – Won the penalty that never was but that proved to be the high point of a performance in which he struggled to impose himself on the Belgian back line. Taken off after the hour when fresh legs were needed to see the game out and could have few complaints. 5
Andrej Kramaric won the penalty that never was but struggled to impose himself on Belgium
Marko Livaja – Went off at the same time as Kramaric and could hardly grumble. Made very little dent in the Belgian defence. 5
Ivan Perisic – Would have scored the fastest goal in World Cup history when he whistled an effort wide inside the opening 10 seconds. Made the occasional dart into the Belgian box but his threat faded from there. 6
Substitutes
Bruno Petkovic (for Livaja 64mins) – While unable to fashion any chances, his fresh legs in the final quarter of the game were essential as Croatia sought to alleviate the Belgian pressure. 6
Mario Pasalic (for Kramaric 64mins) – As with Petkovic, played an unheralded but important role in closing the game out with his hold-up play and seeking out of spaces to wind down the clock. 6
Lovro Majer (for Kovacic 90+2mins)
BELGIUM
Thibaut Courtois – Made a number of vital saves to deny Kovacic, Brozovic and Modric in quick succession during the second-half to keep Belgium in contention, having had little of note to do prior to that. 7
Thomas Meunier – Called upon to make some decent tackles and interceptions as Croatia pushed forward, especially during the second-half. Fired in the shot that Lukaku put wide at the near post three minutes from time. 6
Toby Alderweireld – Almost caught napping when Perisic fired wide inside the opening 10 minutes and that served as a wake-up call. Able to keep Croatia at bay despite the occasional hairy moment. 5
Toby Alderweireld tackles Marko Livaja during the Group F game, which ended goalless
Jan Vertonghen – Given the runaround at times by Croatia’s runners in attack but did just about enough to ensure the clean sheet that gave Belgium a fighting chance of making it through. 5
Timothy Castagne – A low-key performance at wing-back when Belgium needed accurate deliveries and service from wide areas. Was also troubled on occasion by Croatia’s attackers. 5
Leander Dendoncker – Largely lacked impact and it was little surprise to see him hauled off for Youri Tielemans with 18 minutes of normal time to play. 5
Axel Witsel – Helped Belgium swamp the midfield but not the man to get them moving the ball quickly, which was painfully needed to manoeuvre around Croatia. 5
Kevin De Bruyne – Unlike with Manchester City, the play didn’t flow through De Bruyne and he was unable to orchestrate for Belgium as he’d have liked, leading to frustration. Croatia were more than aware of his capabilities and were able to nullify him for the most part. Yet he still created chances, not least when Dries Mertens blazed over from his through ball in the first-half. 5
Kevin De Bruyne set up some chances but was nowhere near his influential best here
Yannick Carrasco – Clumsy in conceding the penalty and was relieved to see VAR overturn it for an offside. His best moment came when he side-stepped several challenges before being denied by a vital block, just prior to Lukaku striking the post. 5
Leandro Trossard – Little surprise to see him taken off for Thorgan Hazard just before the hour mark having failed to trouble Croatia’s back line. 4
Dries Mertens – Wasted a brilliant chance when De Bruyne slipped him clear and was duly the man sacrificed to make way for Lukaku. Not how he would have wanted his World Cup to end. 4
Substitutes
Romelu Lukaku (for Mertens 46mins) – Oh dear, oh dear. In what has been a dreadful season, Lukaku will now be the scapegoat for Belgium’s exit and he left the field in floods of tears. With good reason, too, as he squandered three golden chances that would have prolonged their World Cup. The shot that struck the post was the toughest of his chances, the others evidence that Lukaku is lacking sharpness after fitness issues. Isn’t the striker he was right now. 4
Romelu Lukaku struck the post from this position with the goal gaping in the second-half
Thorgan Hazard (for Trossard 59mins) – Thrown on as Roberto Martinez grew desperate having been dropped for the game. Showed energy but little end product. 5
Jeremy Doku (for Carrasco 72mins)
Youri Tielemans (for Dendoncker 72mins)
Eden Hazard (for Meunier 87mins)
