The ball reached Romelu Lukaku right in front of goal with seconds remaining. Score, and he’d send Belgium into the round of 16 of the World Cup.
Somehow, he missed.
Belgium and its aging generation of players were eliminated from the tournament after a 0-0 draw with Croatia, which advanced asthe second-place team in Group F behind Morocco.
Minutes after the game, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez announced he’d be leaving his role after more than six years — a decision he said he had reached before the World Cup started.
Lukaku, Belgium’s record scorer but only recently back from injury, came on as a halftime substitute and squandered several great chances, the best coming in stoppage time when Thorgan Hazard’s cross fell to him at the back post, barely two metres out. The ball struck Lukaku’s midriff and instead of rolling into the net, it bounced back across the front of the goal and was gathered by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Lukaku also hit the inside of the post with the goal virtually unguarded. Another chance, from a header in front of goal, sailed over the bar following a cross from Kevin De Bruyne that might have come from a ball that was out of play.
Lukaku punched the side of the dugout as he walked off, knocking the plexiglass screen out of place. He was seen sobbing as Belgium assistant coach Thierry Henry consoled him.
“We could have won this game by three goals and we’d be walking away feeling very different,” Martinez said. “I thought (Lukaku) moved very well, got in great situations, and what was missing was the finish. It was the difference between hitting the post and going in, and hitting the post and going out.”
Croatia, the 2018 runner-up led by Luka Modric, will attempt to make another deep run at the World Cup after also reaching the semifinals in 1998. The Croats will play the winner of Group E on Monday.
Croatia's Luka Modric and his teammates celebrate after advancing into the round of 16. Photo / AP
Belgium is facing the breakup of its talented but underachieving squad after failing to live up to its status as the second-ranked team and one of the tournament favourites. What has long been called Belgium’s “Golden Generation” — now featuring six players with more than 100 appearances — is set to split with the World Cup semifinal appearance in 2018 as its peak.
The team, which has faced reports of infighting and divisions between players during the tournament in Qatar, scored only one goal in three games and saved its best performance until its final match. It came too late.
The fitness issues of Lukaku — injured for most of this season with thigh and hamstring problems — have proved to be a huge blow for the team. The Inter Milan striker missed the 1-0 win over Canada, came on as an 81st-minute substitute in the 2-0 loss to Morocco and then played the second half against Croatia.
Throughout the tournament, De Bruyne in particular has found himself in great positions around the area but with no one to feed.
Belgium suddenly had a presence up front to concern Croatia’s defense when Lukaku came on, even if he was visibly not fully fit. His lack of match sharpness proved costly.
De Bruyne and Lukaku will be back for the European Championship in 2024 and probably the next World Cup in 2026. But the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderwiereld, Axel Witsel and Dries Mertens might have played their last major tournament.
Maybe even Eden Hazard, who was dropped for the Croatia game and — at the age of 31 — has lost his old powers after so many injuries.
