Matchday 12 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup was a combative one, with each sport hotly contested.
Match 41
Croatia v Belgium
Belgium wanted nothing lower than a win to usurp their European rivals however have been left to rue a number of missed probabilities, notably from substitute Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku reduce a devastated determine at full-time – a stark distinction to the aid felt by Zlatko Dalic’s males who will now play the highest crew from Group E.
Match 42
Canada v Morocco
Coming into the sport on 4 factors in second, the Atlas Lions wanted a great consequence with Belgium on 3 in third they usually obtained off to an awesome begin due to a blunder from Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan.
Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd’s miskick led to an personal purpose that gave Canada hope 5 minutes earlier than the half-time break, however the rating remained the identical and the North African nation secured a match-up with Spain within the Spherical of 16.
Match 43
Japan v Spain
Alvaro Morata had given La Roja an early lead at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, the place either side have been susceptible to elimination pending Germany’s conflict with Costa Rica.
Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka’s efforts, coupled with their defensive willpower to see out the competition, meant the Samurai Blue would end high in dramatic trend, and ship Germany to a different early exit.
Match 44
Costa Rica v Germany
The European aspect continued to dominate in assault, however a flurry of spurned probabilities opened the door for Costa Rica to capitalise on purpose within the second half. The Central People equalised simply earlier than the hour-mark, as Yeltsin Tejeda tapped in after Manuel Neuer paried Jewison Bennette’s preliminary try.
Substitute Niclas Fullkrug added a fourth within the dying phases of the match, however proving not sufficient to rescue the Germans from third place in Group E. The defeat for Costa Rica sealed their destiny of a fourth-placed end, some extent behind each their European opponents with a minus eight purpose distinction.