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

Belgium wrapped up their preparations for the Euros with a slender 1-0 friendly victory over Croatia in Brussels. Romelu Lukaku scored the lone goal of the match as the Inter Milan striker pounced on a loose ball inside the area to net his side's winner in the first-half.

The Red Devils were in control for most of the game and tried more attempts too. However, they couldn't find a way past Zlatko Dalic's side until Lukaku found the breakthrough, volleying home from point-blank range.

The Vatreni, at the other end, produced a few nervy moments after the break with Bruno Petkovic and Josep Brekalo both coming close to finding an equalizer for the visitors.

With both friendlies done and dusted for Belgium and Croatia, the sides now turn their attention towards the Euros next week. Belgium will play Russia in their opener, and Croatia will take on England.

Here are the hits and flops from the match.

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Hit: Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

Lukaku continued his brilliant scoring record with Belgium

Romelu Lukaku was sporting a new look, trading his beard for a clean shave, but there were no surprises in his performance. The prolific striker is only just coming off the back of a historic campaign with Inter Milan. He continued in the same vein and netted a first-half goal which secured the match for his side.

A corner being laid into the box resulted in a scramble with the ball somehow bouncing towards Lukaku. The striker then volleyed home from just five yards away for his 60th international strike with the Red Devils. And he's still just 28!

A potential Golden Boot winner at the Euros?

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Flop: Bruno Petkovic (Croatia)

Belgium had no isses deaing with Petkovic

Bruno Petkovic led the line for Vatreni but was unsuccessful. In fact, he rarely posed a threat in the Belgian half besides a pair of tame efforts after the break that were safely kept out by Thibaut Courtois.

It's true that the striker was devoid of proper service too, but on the other hand, looked toothless when he was closer to the goal. Petkovic missed a chance to stake a claim for the striker's role at the Euros, though his terrific record with Croatia might still convince Dalic to start him.

Hit: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)

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?

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Flop: Yannick Carrasco (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.

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Hit: Luka Modric (Croatia)

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.