National Teams

Next stop: EURO 2020

Lukaku's goal
separates Belgium and
Croatia

06.06.2021.
Lukaku's goal separates Belgium and Croatia
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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In the final friendly match before EURO 2020, Croatia visited Belgium in Brussels, where the hosts celebrated a 1:0 victory.

BELGIUM - CROATIA 1:0 (1:0)
International friendly.
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels. 

Referee: D. Aytekin (Germany)

Goals: 1:0 - Lukaku (38')

Cautions: -

Belgium: Courtois, Vertonghen (46' Vermaelen), Denayer, Alderweireld, Chadli (71' T. Hazard), Dendoncker (81' E. Hazard), Tielemans, Castagne, Carrasco (81' Doku), Mertens (68' Vanaken), Lukaku. Head coach: R. Martinez.

Croatia: Livaković, Barišić (46' Gvardiol), Ćaleta-Car, Vida, Vrsaljko, Brozović, Kovačić (61' Vlašić), Modrić (61' Pašalić), Perišić (80' Oršić), Rebić (61' Kramarić), Petković (70' Brekalo). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Zlatko Dalić's men faced the top team of the FIFA Rankings, Belgium - 2018 FIFA World Cup bronze medallists - in the EURO 2020 dress rehearsal.

Croatia stood firm in the opening 15 minutes, controlling the possession, but the hosts later turned the tide, with Lukaku and Carrasco hitting the woodwork in the same move.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Perišić quickly responded, but his effort was blocked, while Belgium managed to take the lead on 38 minutes. Following two crosses into the Croatian box, Lukaku provided the finish for a one-goal advantage at the break.

The second half did not allow many more exciting moments, and the best goalscoring opportunities were saved for the closing minutes. Livaković, however, stopped Lukaku with two brilliant saves, and Courtois palmed away Brekalo's low effort.

Croatia opens its EURO 2020 campaign in one week, on Sunday 13 June, at iconic Wembley Stadium against the host nation England. 

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

13.06.2021., Wembley, London. Spectators: 18497
Referees: Daniele Orsato (ITA), Alessandro Giallatini (ITA), Fabiano Preti (ITA)
Fourth referee: Björn Kuipers (NED)
England
1
Croatia
0
1Jordan Pickford1Dominik Livaković
2Kyle Walker2Šime Vrsaljko
4Declan Rice4Ivan Perišić
5John Stones5Duje Ćaleta-Car
42'
9Harry Kane
82'
8Mateo Kovačić
48'
85'
10Raheem Sterling
57'
90'+2'
9Andrej Kramarić
70'
12Kieran Trippier10Luka Modrić
14Kalvin Phillips11Marcelo Brozović
66'
70'
15Tyrone Mings17Ante Rebić
78'
19Mason Mount21Domagoj Vida
20Phil Foden
64'
71'
25Joško Gvardiol
Bench
13Dean Henderson12Lovre Kalinić
23Sam Johnstone23Simon Sluga
3Luke Shaw7Josip Brekalo
70'
7Jack Grealish13Nikola Vlašić
70'
8Jordan Henderson14Ante Budimir
11Marcus Rashford
71'
15Mario Pašalić
85'
16Conor Coady16Mile Škorić
18Dominic Calvert-Lewin
90'+2'
19Milan Badelj
22Ben White20Bruno Petković
78'
24Reece James22Josip Juranović
25Bukayo Saka24Domagoj Bradarić
26Jude Bellingham
82'
26Luka Ivanušec
Coaches
Gareth Southgate (England)Zlatko Dalić
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foto: Drago Sopta/HNS
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