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Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters
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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
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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
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Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, right, and Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, fight for the ball. AP
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Josip Juranovic, left, of Croatia battles for possession with Yannick Carrasco of Belgium. EPA
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From left, Croatian players Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric argue with referee Anthony Taylor. EPA
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Croatia's defender Borna Sosa fights for the ball against Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP
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Mateo Kovacic of Croatia is challenged by Axel Witsel and Leander Dendoncker of Belgium. Getty
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Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, duels for the ball with Belgium's Axel Witsel. AP
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Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters
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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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X4T46IBRCLFHPPEJGXGXNDPVRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=1b4ee921ccd281594187a3621597c2d23a08de9d9dbda2164b2dbbea3d324f34&width=400&height=225)
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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2DF676QGDWC5CTMGGI4MI34LY.jpg?smart=true&auth=aaced1f47b0b97ccc9a554b709ca624b2d0b3ee96a56ed1857487c3d8fd3e3ca&width=400&height=225)
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, right, and Croatia's Josip Juranovic, left, fight for the ball. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WQOMM564A7ZYQMH6L2JBN5JVRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=b37377d005afe292ab6b97f7364fec9ce1ecf346e6bdafc04888d0f9787c1daf&width=400&height=225)
Josip Juranovic, left, of Croatia battles for possession with Yannick Carrasco of Belgium. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4ZCBLFFWXD4SNDE33P5L7663E4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1db3f9609a11a2bf42700c0dabf3e70f06df99f14220514bf412ddba69f89dfe&width=400&height=225)
From left, Croatian players Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Andrej Kramaric argue with referee Anthony Taylor. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HDLR2EH37OFAJRR2JU2ZTO5ROI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2819b9417012d87fe895989a75fa34b584fa512cfc91f9d1b692517774b3188&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's defender Borna Sosa fights for the ball against Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q62DUIJ5OY2HCCF7PTOJKKBS5Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c430f2c5d8f4c7bf0d740d89d91e61b7e0374196b5a223e28b0e8e16966e0ddd&width=400&height=225)
Mateo Kovacic of Croatia is challenged by Axel Witsel and Leander Dendoncker of Belgium. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZNXBO3EN65Z5MMQMHLMAX6TGWA.jpg?smart=true&auth=d0f231ecaf13ab687126b5039e2ac1ad95a51840c278c01089f31aaff616b024&width=400&height=225)
Croatia's Andrej Kramaric, left, duels for the ball with Belgium's Axel Witsel. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y4DVNWHJSJU2TTXVU3KHFU6PKA.jpg?smart=true&auth=75f4cf71c41a5a0cf78f11fb2fc99535c807cdd370ec396da3ca846f3b457f3d&width=400&height=225)
Belgium's Jan Vertonghen reacts. Reuters
Belgium's golden generation out of World Cup 2022 after draw with Croatia
Kevin de Bruyne and Co fail to fire in Group F decider with goalless draw expected to signal end of a few international careers
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
01 December, 2022
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