Star Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku took his frustrations out on the plastic wall of the Red Devils’ dugout after the world No. 2 was eradicated from the World Cup with a 0-0 draw towards Croatia.
Belgium wanted a win to progress from Group F having received their opening encounter towards Canada, however misplaced their second recreation towards Morocco 2-0.
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Despite a nervy begin during which Croatia had a great likelihood inside 10 seconds from kick-off, Roberto Martinez’s aspect grew into the sport.
Inter Milan star Lukaku was thrust into the motion at half-time, approaching for Dries Mertens who fired extensive contained in the field in what was Belgium’s greatest likelihood of the opening 45 minutes.
But Lukaku, who has scored 68 targets in 103 appearances for Belgium, did not convey his taking pictures boots with him to Qatar as he missed a whopping three gilt-edged possibilities to win the sport.
The first arrived within the sixtieth minute when Lukaku’s run had made house for winger Yannick Carrasco to drive into the field and have a crack at objective, however his shot was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
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The rebound fell kindly to Lukaku, however his effort from seven yards smacked towards the put up and away to security.
27 minutes elapsed earlier than the 29-year-old had one other golden likelihood on objective, however when it was his second to shine as soon as once more, Lukaku fluffed his traces.
A headed Croatian clearance did not clear the world and landed on the ft of Belgian right-back Thomas Meunier, who fired a cross at Lukaku.
But the ball smashed off his proper leg and flew extensive of the identical put up he had smacked barely half-hour earlier.
It might be stated that he had little time to react as a result of sheer tempo on Meunier’s cross however from contained in the six-yard field, it appeared simpler to attain than miss.
Yet Lukaku’s residing nightmare was not carried out simply but.
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With one minute left on the clock in regular time, Thorgan Hazard lofted a cross from simply inside the proper aspect of the field to Lukaku, who was lurking on the again put up and had discovered house to himself behind Croatian defender Dejan Lovren.
But he once more missed, this time from barely one metre out from objective, because the ball smacked off his abdomen and into the grateful arms of Livakovic.
Belgium did not muster up any additional comparable possibilities, as Croatia in the end held on for a 0-0 draw to safe a spot within the Round of 16.
As for Lukaku, he reduce a devastated determine and wanted to be consoled by Belgium assistant and all-time soccer legend Thierry Henry.
Yet his frustration boiled over after the sport when he punched the aspect of the dugout, shattering the plastic.
Unsurprisingly, the response to Lukaku’s disasterclass was not type to him.
