Hislop sympathises with Lukaku after Belgium elimination (1:49)Shaka Hislop sympathises with Romelu Lukaku after Belgium were elminated from the World Cup at the Group stage. (1:49)
DOHA, Qatar — Belgium were eliminated from the World Cup with Croatia advancing to the round of 16 after the sides played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday.
Belgium had to win to make it to the knockout stages. With the qualification on the line, Roberto Martinez — who left his role as Belgium coach after the game — made some big calls in his starting lineup. He dropped captain Eden Hazard and chose not to start striker Romelu Lukaku.
For Croatia, runners-up at the 2018 World Cup, a draw was enough so it was about managing the game in the best way. They thought they had a penalty before VAR intervened for an offside and only conceded one chance to their opponents in the first half.
Martinez sent Lukaku on at half-time with the mission to change the game and qualify his team. He could and should have done it with multiple golden chances missed. This was not Lukaku’s World Cup or Belgium’s.
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