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Hakim Ziyech of Morocco and Germany's Joshua Kimmich
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Matchday 12 Live Blog: Japan slays giants to top group as Morocco, Croatia survive group of death
Join us for Matchday 12 as we bring you the key moments and highlights from today's FIFA World Cup fixtures.
Hakim Ziyech of Morocco and Germany's Joshua Kimmich
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By SBS Sport
Source: SBS
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Croatia Stats
· Croatia are guaranteed to reach the knockout phase if they avoid defeat in this match. If they lose, they need Morocco to lose against Canada and then goal difference will decide whether the 2018 runners-up or the Atlas Lions progress.
· France have already qualified for the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup. Not since 2006 (Brazil and Germany) have both finalists from the previous tournament progressed to the round of last 16: 2010 (France and Italy eliminated in the group stage), 2014 (Spain eliminated in the group stage) and 2018 (Germany eliminated in the group stage).
· Croatia were eliminated in the group stage in three of their five World Cup appearances (2002, 2006, 2014). They finished third in 1998 and were runners-up in 2018.
· Croatia lost only one of their last 18 matches (W12-D5-L1), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June.
· Croatia lost each of their last six games versus opposition in the top two of the FIFA world rankings at the time of the match. Belgium are currently second.
· Ivan Perišic (32) is one short of moving joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (33) in Croatia's all-time leading goalscorers, behind only Davor Šuker (45). Perišic's first senior international goal was in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw versus Belgium in Brussels on 11 September 2012.
· Perišic is joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (both 5) in Croatia's leading World Cup goalscorers, only one behind Davor Šuker (6). In terms of World Cup and EUROs goals combined, Perišic is Croatia's joint-leading goalscorer alongside Šuker (both 9).
· Perišic can become the first player to score for Croatia at three World Cups. He currently shares the record of two alongside Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Andrej Kramaric (including two goals in 2022).
· Joško Gvardiol scored against Thibaut Courtois in this season's Champions League, for RB Leipzig in a 3-2 home victory versus Real Madrid on 25 October.
· Dejan Lovren and Luka Modric are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
· France have already qualified for the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup. Not since 2006 (Brazil and Germany) have both finalists from the previous tournament progressed to the round of last 16: 2010 (France and Italy eliminated in the group stage), 2014 (Spain eliminated in the group stage) and 2018 (Germany eliminated in the group stage).
· Croatia were eliminated in the group stage in three of their five World Cup appearances (2002, 2006, 2014). They finished third in 1998 and were runners-up in 2018.
· Croatia lost only one of their last 18 matches (W12-D5-L1), a 3-0 Nations League defeat versus Austria in Osijek on 3 June.
· Croatia lost each of their last six games versus opposition in the top two of the FIFA world rankings at the time of the match. Belgium are currently second.
· Ivan Perišic (32) is one short of moving joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (33) in Croatia's all-time leading goalscorers, behind only Davor Šuker (45). Perišic's first senior international goal was in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw versus Belgium in Brussels on 11 September 2012.
· Perišic is joint-second alongside Mario Mandzukic (both 5) in Croatia's leading World Cup goalscorers, only one behind Davor Šuker (6). In terms of World Cup and EUROs goals combined, Perišic is Croatia's joint-leading goalscorer alongside Šuker (both 9).
· Perišic can become the first player to score for Croatia at three World Cups. He currently shares the record of two alongside Ivica Olic, Mario Mandzukic and Andrej Kramaric (including two goals in 2022).
· Joško Gvardiol scored against Thibaut Courtois in this season's Champions League, for RB Leipzig in a 3-2 home victory versus Real Madrid on 25 October.
· Dejan Lovren and Luka Modric are one yellow card away from a suspension.
Courtesy of Gracenote
Head-to-Head: Croatia v Belgium
· This game is between the teams who finished second (Croatia) and third (Belgium) at the 2018 World Cup.
· There have been eight matches between Croatia and Belgium. Both nations won three and there were two draws. This is their first encounter at a neutral venue.
· The most recent meeting was a friendly in Brussels on 6 June 2021. Belgium won 1-0 through a goal by Romelu Lukaku (38'). Joško Gvardiol made his debut for Croatia in that game.
· The most recent competitive matches between Croatia and Belgium were in qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The Belgians took four points out of six: 1-1 draw in Brussels on 11 September 2012 and 2-1 win in Zagreb on 11 October 2013. In the second of those games, Romelu Lukaku scored twice to secure Belgium's first qualification for a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup.
· Romelu Lukaku made his senior international debut for Belgium at the age of 16 years and 294 days in a 1-0 friendly loss against Croatia in Brussels on 3 March 2010 (goal by Niko Kranjcar). Other players to feature in that match included Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren.
· Croatia lost two of their 10 World Cup matches against UEFA opposition (W6-D2-L2, both draws ended in penalty shootout victories). The two defeats were both versus France: 2-1 at Stade de France in the 1998 semi-finals and 4-2 in Moscow in the 2018 final.
· Belgium won four of their last five World Cup games versus UEFA opposition (W4-D0-L1), after they were victorious in only two of their first 16 World Cup matches against UEFA teams (W2-D4-L10, game decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw).
· Club teammates who can be in opposition in this match are Ivo Grbic and Axel Witsel/Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku (Internazionale), Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois/Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), and Lovro Majer and Arthur Theate/Jéremy Doku (Stade Rennais).
Courtesy of Gracenote
· There have been eight matches between Croatia and Belgium. Both nations won three and there were two draws. This is their first encounter at a neutral venue.
· The most recent meeting was a friendly in Brussels on 6 June 2021. Belgium won 1-0 through a goal by Romelu Lukaku (38'). Joško Gvardiol made his debut for Croatia in that game.
· The most recent competitive matches between Croatia and Belgium were in qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The Belgians took four points out of six: 1-1 draw in Brussels on 11 September 2012 and 2-1 win in Zagreb on 11 October 2013. In the second of those games, Romelu Lukaku scored twice to secure Belgium's first qualification for a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup.
· Romelu Lukaku made his senior international debut for Belgium at the age of 16 years and 294 days in a 1-0 friendly loss against Croatia in Brussels on 3 March 2010 (goal by Niko Kranjcar). Other players to feature in that match included Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren.
· Croatia lost two of their 10 World Cup matches against UEFA opposition (W6-D2-L2, both draws ended in penalty shootout victories). The two defeats were both versus France: 2-1 at Stade de France in the 1998 semi-finals and 4-2 in Moscow in the 2018 final.
· Belgium won four of their last five World Cup games versus UEFA opposition (W4-D0-L1), after they were victorious in only two of their first 16 World Cup matches against UEFA teams (W2-D4-L10, game decided by a penalty shootout classed as a draw).
· Club teammates who can be in opposition in this match are Ivo Grbic and Axel Witsel/Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid), Marcelo Brozovic and Romelu Lukaku (Internazionale), Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois/Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), and Lovro Majer and Arthur Theate/Jéremy Doku (Stade Rennais).
Courtesy of Gracenote
Watch Croatia v Belgium & Canada v Morocco live on SBS and SBS Viceland or via SBS On Demand!
Croatia v Belgium
Canada v Morocco
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