Croatia vs. Belgium World Cup lineups, starting 11 for Group F match at Qatar 2022

Dom Farrell

Croatia vs. Belgium World Cup lineups, starting 11 for Group F match at Qatar 2022 image

Belgium's so-called golden generation must salvage their last shot at World Cup glory with no further margin for error in their final Group F game against Croatia.

Roberto Martinez's side laboured to a 1-0 win in their tournament opener against Canada before being overwhelmed in a 2-0 defeat to Morocco.

If Canada shock Morocco, Belgium can still progress with a draw depending on the goal difference equation, although they realistically need a win.

Croatia returned to their swaggering best in a 4-1 win from behind against Canada and, with four points from their two matches, can progress with a draw.

Below are the projected lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the match.

MORE: How to watch Croatia vs Belgium

Croatia vs Belgium lineups

Martinez was forced to deny claims of a bust-up involving his senior players after the Morocco game, branding such suggestions to be "fake news".

RTL Sport reported that Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Jan Vertonghen were involved in a heated exchange, with Romelu Lukaku acting as peacemaker.

"You've got some outlets in Belgium who are quite happy to jump on fake news, which is quite astonishing," Martinez told his pre-match news conference.

"It has made the group more aware that the less they listen to the noise from the outside, the better."

Irrespective of Trumpian denials, the external noise means any major omissions from Martinez's lineup will be noted with interest.

Zlatko Dalic is not reading too much into Belgium's struggles on and off the pitch and the Croatia coach is relishing a high-stakes encounter.

"There is no safety net now. It's an all-or-nothing match, a crucial encounter for both teams," he told reporters.

"Belgium did not forget how to play football overnight and we have to be at the highest level. We need a repeat of our performance against Canada."

MORE: Group F: How things stand for Belgium, Croatia, Canada, Morocco in Qatar

Croatia starting 11

Croatia starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Livakovic — 22-Juranovic, 6-Lovren, 20-Gvardiol, 19-Sosa — 10-Modric, 11-Brozovic, 8-Kovacic — 14-Livaja, 9-Kramaric, 4-Perisic

Dalic opted not to refresh his side for this game, which would have allowed his experienced campaigners the chance to have a much-needed break, with Tottenham Hospur winger Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric both retaining their places in an unchanged starting lineup.

Belgium starting 11

Belgium starting lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1-Courtois — 19-Dendoncker, 2-Alderweireld, 5-Vertonghen, — 15-Meunier, 6-Witsel 7-De Bruyne, 21-Castagne —  17-Trossard, 11-Carrasco — 14-Mertens

Martinez has made four changes as his side enter the last-chance saloon. 

With Amadou Onana suspended, Leander Dendoncker is recalled and Kevin De Bruyne drops back into central midfield while Leandro Trossard and Yannick Carrasco come in for Eden and Thorgan Hazard. Up front, with Romelu Lukaku still not fit to start despite a cameo off the bench against Morocco, Dries Mertens replaces Michy Batshuayi.

MORE: Osman Bukari mimics Cristiano Ronaldo 'Siuuu' celebration in Portugal vs Ghana as CR7 watches on

Croatia vs. Belgium World Cup squads

Here are the names on Croatia and Belgium's World Cup squads in Qatar (caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):

Croatia

Position Player Club Age Caps
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 27 33
Goalkeeper Ivo Grbic Atletico Madrid (SPA) 26 2
Goalkeeper Ivica Ivusic Osijek (CRO)  27 5
Defender Josip Stanisic Bayern Munich (GER) 22 6
Defender Borna Barisic Rangers (SCO) 29 27
Defender Martin Erlic Sassuolo (ITA) 24 3
Defender Dejan Lovren Zenit St Petersburg (ITA) 33 71
Defender Borna Sosa VfB Stuttgart (GER) 24 8
Defender Josko Gvardiol RB Leipzig (GER) 20 12
Defender Domagoj Vida AEK Athens (GRE) 33 99
Defender Josip Juranovic Celtic (SCO) 27 21
Defender Josip Sutalo Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 22 3
Midfielder Lovro Majer Rennes (FRA) 24 10
Midfielder Mateo Kovacic Chelsea (ENG) 28 83
Midfielder Luka Modric Real Madrid (SPA) 37 154
Midfielder Luka Sucic RB Salzburg (AUS) 20 3
Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic Inter Milan (ITA)  29 76
Midfielder Nikola Vlasic Torino (ITA) 25 41
Midfielder Mario Pasalic Atalanta (ITA) 27 42
Midfielder Ivan Perisic Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 33 115
Midfielder Kristijan Jakic Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 25 4
Forward Andrej Kramaric Hoffenheim (GER) 31 73
Forward Marko Livaja Hadjuk Split (CRO) 29 14
Forward Bruno Petkovic Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 28 22
Forward Ante Budimir Osasuna (ENG) 31 15
Forward Mislav Orsic Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 29 20

Belgium

Position Player Club Age Caps
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid (SPA) 30 97
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet Club Brugge (BEL) 34 35
Goalkeeper Koen Casteels Wolfsburg (GER) 30 4
Defender Toby Alderweireld Royal Antwerp (BEL) 33 124
Defender Arthur Theate Stade Rennes (FRA) 22 4
Defender Wout Faes Leicester City (ENG) 24 1
Defender Jan Vertonghen Anderlecht (BEL) 35 142
Defender Thomas Meunier Borussia Dortmund (GER) 31 59
Defender Timothy Castagne Leicester City (ENG) 26 6
Defender Zeno Debast Anderlecht (BEL) 18 3
Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne Man City (ENG) 31 94
Midfielder Hans Vanaken Club Brugge (BEL) 30 23
Midfielder Youri Tielemans Leicester City (ENG) 54 55
Midfielder Leander Dendoncker Aston Villa (ENG) 27 29
Midfielder Amadou Onana Everton (ENG) 21 2
Midfielder Yannick Carrasco Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 60
Midfielder Axel Witsel Atletico Madrid (SPA) 33 127
Midfielder Charles de Ketelaere AC Milan (ITA) 21 10
Midfielder Leandro Trossard Brighton (ENG) 27 21
Midfielder Thorgan Hazard Borussia Dortmund (GER) 29 45
Forward Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan (ITA) 29 102
Forward Michy Batshuayi Fenerbahce (TUR) 29 48
Forward Dries Mertens Galatasaray (TUR) 35 107
Forward Eden Hazard Real Madrid (SPA) 31 123
Forward Lois Openda Lens (FRA) 22 5
Forward Jeremy Doku Stade Rennes (FRA) 20 10

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.