A defeat will leave Modric’s Croatia or De Bruyne’s Belgium without the dream of winning the World Cup that they cherished four years ago.
Four years ago, Croatia of Modric, Perisic, Lovren, Kramaric or Brozovic caressed the World Cup as never before after losing the final against France. Belgium of De Bruyne, Hazard, Vertonghen or Witsel would also sign the best classification in its history after finishing third. The Red Devils star already told that they lost the chance of their lives there. The team that lose today will miss the last train.
How does Croatia arrive? The inability to score Morocco in his debut left doubts and the debate about the end of the cycle. Also Davies’ early goal in the next match againts Canada. However, the runner-up in the last world cup would win with a comeback that places it as the leader of the group. A tie also qualifies it for eighths. Of course, the defeat sends him home unless the eliminated Canada beat the still undefeated African team.
How does Belgium arrive? If Croatia has gone from less to more, Belgium represents the opposite, because after doing their homework against Canada, they would fall against fairly against Morocco. To be with the 16 best, all they need is a win or draw and wait the Atlas Lions fall by more than three goals.
The game duel. Modric vs. De Bruyne. Both teams revolve around theirs talents and both are playing their last World Cup (the Belgian would arrive with 35 the next, but his own words rule him out), so theirs leadership must be fundamental in an unexpected final as Today’s. It was assumed that they were not going to have problems sealing the first two places and that their talent could be measured later, but reality is that one will still have an extra life and that the other will leave the tournament orphaned of one of its best players.
By Fernando Perez (Football Analyst, Spain)
Bengali