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Morocco Secure Top Spot, Belgium Suffer Shock World Cup Exit

Morocco Secure Top Spot, Belgium Suffer Shock World Cup Exit

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 01: Youssef En-Nesyri (R) of Morocco celebrates after scoring the teams first goal with teammates during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F match between Canada and Morocco at Al Thumama Stadium on December 01, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Belgium 0-0 Croatia

World number two Belgium have eliminated from the FIFA World Cup after failing to secure a victory over Croatia on Thursday evening.

The Red Devils made four changes from the loss to Morocco, with Leandro Trossard and Yannick Carrasco replacing Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi in the attack.

The Croats, meanwhile, were unchanged from the win over Canada and needed just a point to advance to the next round.

Croatia thought they had been awarded a penalty on 18 minutes when Carrasco had brought down Andrej Kramaric but a after review on the pitch-side monitor, the decision was overturned for an offside.

After struggling to find a breakthrough in the first half, Belgium coach threw on the nation's all-time leading scorer Romelu Lukaku for Mertins at the start of the second half.

Lukaku had two big chances to put Belgium ahead after hitting the upright with the goal at his mercy on the hour mark, before he nodded over from close range a few minutes later.

It was not to be Belgium's night, as Lukaku passed up a golden opportunity in second-half stoppage from six-yards out as the draw was enough to see Croatia clinch second spot.

Canada 1-2 Morocco

Morocco advanced to the round of 16 as Group F winners after defeating Canada 2-1 on Thursday evening.

Yassine Bounou was back in the Moroccan goal after pulling out of the game against Belgium, while Abdelhamid Sabiri replaced Selim Amallah in the midfield.

The Atlas Lions got the early breakthrough when Hakim Ziyech took advantage of a defensive mix-up before dinking the ball over goalkeeper Milan Borjan from around 30 yards out.

The Moroccans doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as Achraf Hakimi did well to play in En-Nesyri, who surged into the box before firing home with a low strike.

Canada were gifted a way back in to the encounter five minuets before the halftime break, with Morocco's Naif Aguerd turning Sam Adekugbe's cross into his own net.

Canada did push for an equaliser in the second half, but the Moroccans defended superbly and secured the win which took them into the round of 16.

Morocco became the first African nation since Nigeria in 1998 to top their group at the World Cup.

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