• Luka Modric of Croatia vies for the ball with Jan Vertonghen of Belgium during their World Cup match at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Thursday, December 1, 2022. EPA
    Luka Modric of Croatia vies for the ball with Jan Vertonghen of Belgium during their World Cup match at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Thursday, December 1, 2022. EPA
  • Roberto Martinez applauds Belgium's fans after their sides' elimination from the tournament during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty Images
    Roberto Martinez applauds Belgium's fans after their sides' elimination from the tournament during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. Getty Images
  • Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, right, and Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, fight for the ball. AP
    Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, right, and Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, fight for the ball. AP
  • Josip Juranovic, left, of Croatia battles for possession with Yannick Carrasco of Belgium. EPA
    Josip Juranovic, left, of Croatia battles for possession with Yannick Carrasco of Belgium. EPA
  • From left, Croatian players Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric argue with referee Anthony Taylor. EPA
    From left, Croatian players Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric argue with referee Anthony Taylor. EPA
  • Croatia's defender Borna Sosa fights for the ball against Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP
    Croatia's defender Borna Sosa fights for the ball against Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP
  • Mateo Kovacic of Croatia is challenged by Axel Witsel and Leander Dendoncker of Belgium. Getty
    Mateo Kovacic of Croatia is challenged by Axel Witsel and Leander Dendoncker of Belgium. Getty
  • Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, duels for the ball with Belgium's Axel Witsel. AP
    Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, duels for the ball with Belgium's Axel Witsel. AP
  • Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters
    Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters

Belgium's golden generation out of World Cup 2022 after draw with Croatia


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Kevin De Bruyne, imagine, said they had been dulled by age. Reports alleged they were dented by in-fighting.

Whatever the reason, Belgium’s golden generation could not find the silver bullet to their World Cup woes, the game’s second-ranked side bowing out from Qatar at the group stage. Four years ago, they finished third in Russia.

Maybe time had caught up with them. Maybe there was mutiny in the ranks, albeit denied by manager Roberto Martinez – as he would be expected to do. Perhaps Martinez himself wasn’t the right hand to extract the team’s true potential. Immediately after Belgium's World Cup fate was sealed, he announced he would be steeping down. The Ahmad bin Ali Stadium could conceivably be the end of the line for many.

A goalless draw in the Group F decider with Croatia confirmed Belgium to the boot, consigning De Brunye and Romelu Lukaku – on as a second-half substitute, the striker wasted three glorious chances - and Dries Mertens and Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thibaut Courtois, to an early, ignominious exit.

Croatia, runners-up last time out, are through to the knockouts. Morocco, granting the tournament one of its great storylines, join them - as group winners, no less. Belgium were gone.

Lucky against Canada, lacklustre against Morocco, they needed a win on Thursday to continue. Most likely determined to get off on the right foot, they created little in first half, their clearest chance coming when De Bruyne played in Mertens. But the Galatasaray forward fired well over.

Within two minutes, Croatia thought they had a penalty when Yannick Carrasco felled Andrej Kramaric in the Belgium area. However, as Luka Modric waited what felt an eternity to take the spot-kick, the Video Assistant Referee interjected. Referee Anthony Taylor returned from the pitch-side monitor to overturn the initial decision; apparently there had been an offside in the build-up. Replays showed it was fractions.

When a Mexican wave washed through the crowd shortly before half-time, it pointed to the lack of real action. The biggest cheer - it felt anyway - followed news filtering through of Morocco’s lead against Canada in the group’s other game. And again, when the big screen flashed the standings: Morocco were top, two clear of Croatia. As it stood, Belgium would be packing for home.

Requiring an injection of anything, really, Martinez sent on Lukaku for the second half. It nearly paid instant reward: the Inter Milan got his head to De Bruyne’s deep cross, but could not generate any real power.

At the other end, Mateo Kovacic tested Thibaut Courtois’ reflexes. Earning his 100th cap for Belgium, the giant goalkeeper tipped away for the corner. Soon after, Courtois was saving from Marcelo Brozovic and also from Modric. Croatia were turning the screw.

Yet Belgium were inches away from turning it around. Turning around their campaign. De Bruyne sent through Carrasco and, after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic blocked, Lukaku thudded the rebound onto the inside of the post. The goal gaping, it appeared easier to score. The Belgium bench leapt in disbelief.

The sensation would soon return. A cross from the left was deflected over Livakovic and onto Lukaku’s head and, standing six yards out and unmarked, he headed over. Then, in the dying moments, he failed to react when the ball dropped to him right on the Croatia goalline.

There would be no final reprieve. Last weekend, in advance of their Morocco defeat, De Bruyne declared Belgium had “no chance” of winning the World Cup. Age, he said, meant their best opportunity had come in Russia. He was proved correct. Belgium, with their supposed golden generation, were bust.

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm

Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Top speed: 250kph

Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: Dh146,999

UAE Premiership

Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes

Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXare%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%2018%2C%202021%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPadmini%20Gupta%2C%20Milind%20Singh%2C%20Mandeep%20Singh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20Raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410%20million%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E28%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMS%26amp%3BAD%20Ventures%2C%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Astra%20Amco%2C%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%2C%20Fintech%20Fund%2C%20500%20Startups%2C%20Khwarizmi%20Ventures%2C%20and%20Phoenician%20Funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km

Price: from Dh94,900

On sale: now

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

TWISTERS

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos

Rating: 2.5/5

The biog

Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite music: Classical

Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

About Okadoc

Date started: Okadoc, 2018

Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Healthcare

Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth

Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February

Investors: Undisclosed

UAE squad to face Ireland

Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind

Have you been targeted?

Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:

1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.

2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.

3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.

4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.

5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.

Updated: December 01, 2022, 7:53 PM