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Team News: Roberto Martinez rings Belgium changes for Croatia game

Team News: Martinez rings Belgium changes for Croatia game
© Reuters
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez rings the changes for Thursday's World Cup game with Croatia in Al Rayyan.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has rung the changes for Thursday's World Cup game with Croatia at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

The Red Devils head into this contest requiring all three points to guarantee their place in the last 16, and Martinez has made some notable judgment calls.

Captain Eden Hazard is one of four players to drop out, the others being Amadou Onana (suspended), Thorgan Hazard and Michy Batshuayi.

Leander Dendoncker, Leandro Trossard, Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens have all been handed opportunities, with Kevin De Bruyne playing in a deeper role.

Despite making his return from injury as a substitute last time out, Romelu Lukaku is only named among the replacements.

In sharp contrast, Zlatko Dalic has made no alterations to his Croatia side after the 4-1 triumph over Canada at the weekend.

The 2018 runners-up only require a draw to book their spot in the knockout stages and Marko Livaja keeps his place down the middle of the attack.

Croatia: Livakovic; Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic

Belgium: Courtois; Dendoncker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Castagne; Trossard, Carrasco; Mertens

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Belgium players pose for a team group photo before the match on September 22, 2022
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World Cup fixtures header 3
Friday, December 9
 
3pm
Quarter-Finals
Croatia
vs.
Brazil
 
7pm
Saturday, December 10
 
3pm
Quarter-Finals
Morocco
vs.
Portugal
 
7pm
Quarter-Finals
England
vs.
France
Tuesday, December 13
 
7pm
Semi-Finals
TBC
vs.
TBC
Wednesday, December 14
 
7pm
Semi-Finals
TBC
vs.
TBC
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
Todays Game Header Right
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2Manchester CityMan City14102240142632
3Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1586129111830
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs1592431211029
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd148242020026
6Liverpool1464428171122
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton146352319421
8Chelsea146351717021
9Fulham155462426-219
10Brentford154742325-219
11Crystal Palace145451518-319
12Aston Villa155371622-618
13Leicester CityLeicester155282525017
14Bournemouth154471832-1416
15Leeds UnitedLeeds144372226-415
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham154291217-514
17Everton153571117-614
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest153481130-1913
19Southampton153391327-1412
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves15249824-1610

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