Tielemans and Lukaku give Belgium a 2-0 win over Croatia in Rijeka
Belgium got the night they came for in Rijeka. A first-half goal from Youri Tielemans, a Romelu Lukaku finish deep in stoppage time, and a clean sheet against a Croatia side that probed without ever quite landing a blow. 2-0, and a tidy marker on the road to the World Cup.
Tielemans opened the scoring before the interval, arriving on cue to finish off a move that had stretched Croatia out of shape. Lukaku, back in the team and hunting rhythm, made the result safe in added time.
Courtois keeps Croatia out
The save of the night belonged to Thibaut Courtois. Luka Modric, still running Croatia's midfield at 40, slipped into the box and curled one toward the far post with the outside of his boot. Courtois threw himself across to push it away, and the game turned on it. Get that back and the night reads differently.
Kevin De Bruyne started and saw plenty of the ball, pulling the strings without putting his own name on the scoresheet. Belgium did most of their best work on the break, quick and direct whenever Croatia committed bodies forward.
Two sides already booked for the summer
Both teams have their World Cup places, so the scoreline matters less than the feel of the thing. Belgium will like how they looked: organised at the back, sharp in transition, clinical when it counted. Croatia, leaning heavily on Modric, will want more from the players around him before the real games start.
Warm-ups can flatter and they can mislead. Belgium will pocket the clean sheet and move on.
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