Sporstar logo
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Asian Games
  • Asia Cup 2023
  • World Cup Schedule 2023
  • US OPEN 2023
  • Columns
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Asian Games
  • Asia Cup 2023
  • World Cup Schedule 2023
  • US OPEN 2023
  • Columns
MagazineBuy Print
LoginAccountSubscribe

PREMIUM

  • Magazine
  • Posters
  • Columns
  • Special Editions
  • Star Life
  • Statsman

PLAYGROUNDS

  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Kabaddi
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Athletics
  • Basketball
  • Chess
  • Hockey
  • Golf
  • Motorsport
  • Shooting
  • Volleyball
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Wrestling
  • Badminton
  • Boxing
  • Cue Sport
  • MMA
  • ESPORTS

MULTIMEDIA

  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • Podcast
  • Sportoon

ON STAGE

  • ACES Awards
  • Sportstar Conclave

PREMIUM

  • Magazine
  • Posters
  • Columns
  • Special Editions
  • Star Life
  • Statsman

PLAYGROUNDS

  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Kabaddi
  • Archery
  • Tennis
  • Athletics
  • Basketball
  • Chess
  • Hockey
  • Golf
  • Motorsport
  • Shooting
  • Volleyball
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Wrestling
  • Badminton
  • Boxing
  • Cue Sport
  • MMA
  • ESPORTS

MULTIMEDIA

  • Videos
  • Gallery
  • Podcast
  • Sportoon

ON STAGE

  • ACES Awards
  • Sportstar Conclave
Latest issue of Sportstar

Subscribers Only Have you subscribed yet?

Buy Print

  • CONNECT WITH US
  • Get sportstar app on
  • Google Playstore
  1. Home
  2. Football
  3. Fifa World Cup
  4. News

Croatia vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup: When, where to watch, preview, streaming info, Qatar 2022 updates

CRO vs BEL: Here’s all you need to know about the FIFA World Cup Group F clash between Croatia and Belgium which takes place at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.

Published : Dec 01, 2022 08:10 IST

Team Sportstar

Comments

follow iconFollow Us

SHARE

  • Copy link
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit

READ LATER

SEE ALL Remove
Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens with teammates during training on the eve of their Group F clash against Croatia.
Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens with teammates during training on the eve of their Group F clash against Croatia. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
infoIcon

Belgium’s Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens with teammates during training on the eve of their Group F clash against Croatia. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

MATCH PREVIEW (via Reuters)

When Belgium was beaten by France in its 2018 World Cup semifinal there was some grumbling that the better team had lost and the so-called ‘golden generation’ had been robbed of its place in the final against Croatia.

Fast-forward four years and Belgium will get the chance to show what might have been against the Croats in a Group F encounter on Thursday that may lack the prestige of the tournament’s showpiece finale but remains an acutely important game for both sides.

The group is finely balanced.

ALSO READ
Qatar 2022: Which teams have qualified for the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup?

Croatia is top, level on four points with Morocco and a point clear of Belgium with three, while bottom side Canada’s hopes have already been extinguished.

Belgium, ranked second in the world, must win to guarantee its place in the last 16, while 2018 runner-up Croatia need only a point to ensure it will remain in Qatar beyond the group stage.

RELATED FIFA WORLD CUP STORIES

  • Scan the World Cup in pictures
  • Football fans, put your skills to the test with FIFA World Cup Quiz
  • Soak in the rich history of the football World Cup
  • WATCH: What’s happening in Qatar and who is saying what
  • Here are some of the most frequently asked questions

Roberto Martinez’s side has been among the most disappointing of the favourites so far, with a narrow win over Canada and a humbling 2-0 defeat by Morocco leading to questions about whether this generation of Belgian gold has lost its lustre.

This was seemingly the view of playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who was quoted in an interview with The Guardian dismissing his side’s chances at the tournament because “we’re too old”.

Predicted lineups:
Croatia: Livakovic (GK), Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Modric (c), Brozovic, Kovacic, Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic
Belgium: Courtois (GK), Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Castagne, Carrasco, Witsel, Tielemans, Meunier, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard (c), Lukaku

They are certainly not the oldest squad at the tournament, that honour goes to Iran, but there are concerns about the fitness and form of some key stalwarts.

Eden Hazard’s lack of playing time at Real Madrid this season, where he has started only one LaLiga game, has left him searching for match sharpness, while striker Romelu Lukaku, who came on in the 81st minute against Morocco, is another who is not up to speed.

Martinez pointed more to psychological aspects than physical in his post-mortem following their defeat to Morocco.

“We have to stay together now and become stronger. I know this group, we will be ready for Croatia,” he said.

“We haven’t been the best Belgium at this World Cup yet. Today I thought we played with the fear of losing. Without the ball we still work for each other but when we have the ball, we don’t stand out, we are not ourselves. We have to work on that.”

Croatia’s tournament also began with a lifeless performance against Morocco, although the goalless draw provided a platform for it to kick-on against Canada.

It looked far sharper in Sunday’s 4-1 win, with Andrej Kramaric’s double strike dispelling doubts about whether it lacks a cutting edge up front.

A draw would see it over the line but coach Zlatko Dalic ruled out playing for such a scenario.

“We must not accept the option of having only one point to end the match with Belgium,” he said.

“There are no easy games (at the World Cup). Belgium need a win but we will also aim for a win.”

WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
Where will the Croatia vs Belgium World Cup opening match kick-off?
The Croatia vs Belgium match will kick-off at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
When will the Croatia vs Belgium World Cup opening match kick-off?
The Croatia vs Belgium match will kick-off at 8:30PM IST on December 1, 2022.
Where can you watch the Croatia vs Belgium match in India?
The Croatia vs Belgium World Cup opening match will be telecasted live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD. On Android and well as iOS, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be live streamed on JioCinema.
Where can you watch the Croatia vs Belgium match outside India?
The following list shows where you can watch the Croatia vs Belgium match outside India:
United States – TV: FOX, Telemundo; Live Stream: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada – TV: CTV, TSN; Live Stream: fuboTV, TSN app
United Kingdom – TV: BBC One; Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website
Australia – TV: SBS; Live Stream: SBS On Demand
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sports; Live Stream: Sky Sport
Malaysia – TV: RTM, Astro; Live Stream: Astro Go
Singapore – TV: Mediacorp Channel 5; Live Stream: StarHub TV+, IPTV, Singtel TV
Hong Kong – TV: BeIN Sports, ITV; Live Stream: Now TV, ViuTV
Nigeria – SuperSport and Showmax Pro.

Comments

Related Topics

FIFA World Cup /

Belgium /

Croatia

Latest on Sportstar

  1. Indian sports news wrap, September 16
    Team Sportstar
  2. Al Raed vs Al Nassr LIVE Score: ALR 0-0 NAS, Early chance for Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League updates
    Team Sportstar
  3. Axar Patel to Naseem Shah - Full list of injured players ahead of ODI World Cup 2023
    Team Sportstar
  4. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez out of qualifying at Singapore Grand Prix
    AFP
  5. Medical panel will decide on Naseem Shah’s return to cricket: Pakistan Board
    PTI
READ MORE STORIES
Latest issue of Sportstar

Deeds, not words — need of the hour for women in football

Ayon Sengupta
Neeraj Chopra underlined his claim as the greatest Indian athlete off all time as he completed his gauntlet with a World Championship gold in javelin throw — the one medal that had eluded him in his remarkable career thus far.

World Athletics Championships 2023: In the end, it does matter for team India

Jonathan Selvaraj
+ SEE all Stories

More on News

  1. Messi regrets controversy against Dutch at the FIFA World Cup
    AP
  2. FIFA World Cup trailblazing female referee verbally abused; Rwanda football issues probe
    AFP
  3. Argentine corn field planted with face of World Cup winner Messi
    Reuters
  4. Tunisia coach stays on despite missing World Cup target
    Reuters
  5. Mbappe: Will ‘never’ get over World Cup heartbreak
    AFP
READ MORE STORIES

Latest on Sportstar

  1. Indian sports news wrap, September 16
    Team Sportstar
  2. Al Raed vs Al Nassr LIVE Score: ALR 0-0 NAS, Early chance for Cristiano Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League updates
    Team Sportstar
  3. Axar Patel to Naseem Shah - Full list of injured players ahead of ODI World Cup 2023
    Team Sportstar
  4. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez out of qualifying at Singapore Grand Prix
    AFP
  5. Medical panel will decide on Naseem Shah’s return to cricket: Pakistan Board
    PTI
READ MORE STORIES
Sporstar logo
playstore
  • Sportstar

    • About us
    • Archives
    • News Archive
    • Sitemap
    • Print Subscription
    • Digital Subscription
    • Student Access
    • Corporate/Enterprise Access
    • Rss Feeds
    • Contact Us
    • Careers
  • Group News Sites

    • The Hindu
    • Business LIne
    • Frontline
    • இந்து தமிழ் திசை
    • The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy
    • Young World Club
    • The Hindu E-Paper
    • BusinessLine E-Paper
    • Crossword+ "Free Games"
    • The Hindu Coupons
  • Other Products

    • RoofandFloor
    • STEP
    • Images
    • Classifieds
    • Special Publications
  • Popular Sections

    • IPL 2023
    • Cricket
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • WTC
    • F1
    • Basketball

Trending on Sportstar

  • Asia Cup 2023 most runs, wickets stats: Shubman Gill tops run-scorers list, Pathirana leading wicket-taker arrow
  • India vs Bangladesh Scorecard, Asia Cup 2023 Super 4: Streaming info; BAN 265/8; IND 259 all out; Bangladesh wins by 6 runs arrow
  • Jhingan, Gurpreet part of Sports Ministry’s updated Indian Football team for Asian Games arrow
  • IND vs BAN, Asia Cup 2023: Shubman Gill slams 5th ODI ton; joins Sachin, Kohli in list of batters to cross 1000 runs in calendar year arrow
  • SA vs AUS, 4th ODI Scorecard, commentary and streaming updates arrow

Trending on our Group sites

  • Three infiltrators killed near LoC in Baramulla’s Uri: Army arrow
  • Sanatana Dharma is a set of eternal duties; must they be destroyed, asks Madras HC judge arrow
  • Witch-hunt against Tejaswini Desai highlights dangers of being a teacher in India today arrow
  • No, Nehru did not mishandle Kashmir arrow
  • Sir Dorabji Tata and the Olympics arrow
  • Telegram
  • Spotify
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright© 2023, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

BACK TO TOParrow

The Hindu
Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment