Belgium 1-0 Croatia: 5 hits and flops as Red Devils ride on Romelu Lukaku's strike | International friendly 2020-21

Belgium rode on Lukaku's strike to see off Croatia
Belgium rode on Lukaku's strike to see off Croatia

Hit: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)

Livakovic was a wall between the sticks, denying Belgium a few times
Livakovic was a wall between the sticks, denying Belgium a few times

Dominik Livakovic was the man between the sticks for Croatia tonight and he produced a series of crucial saves to keep his side in the reckoning until the last minute. However, the custodian's best piece of action came towards the end which literally denied Lukaku from doubling their advantage.

The onrushing striker looked to pounce on a superb cross from Hans Vanaken in the penultimate minute of normal time. However, Livakovic produced a remarkable reflex save to keep him out and then reacted the quickest to scramble the ball clear.

Should he start for Croatia at the Euros?


Flop: Yannick Carrasco (Belgium)

Carrasco missed two good chances to score for Belgium
Carrasco missed two good chances to score for Belgium

A 'flop' doesn't always mean a player is terrible. Sometimes, it's just a rough day at work, which is exactly what Yannick Carrasco had today. The midfielder, who's a La Liga champion with Atletico Madrid, didn't look sharp and missed two chances too for Belgium.

During a goal-mouth scramble around the half-hour mark, Lukaku's shot came off the crossbar for Carrasco. The winger was in a good position but couldn't direct his header goalwards. Carrasco endured the same fate in the second half, skying a close-range effort over the bar.

Carrasco really should be scoring those as he won't get away with misses like these at the Euros.


Hit: Luka Modric (Croatia)

Modric ran the rings around Belgium
Modric ran the rings around Belgium

What's extraordinary for a player his age is normal for Luka Modric, who isn't your average player by any stretch of imagination. The 35-year-old performs like he's 25 instead. Modric had another stormer on the pitch today, even without scoring or assisting.

He was at the heart of everything good coming from the visitors. He caught the viewer's eye with his neat footwork in the second-half which started a counter-attack. Modric's ball control was just insane!.

Croatia's key player at the Euros without a doubt.

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