World Cup

[monks data]

World Cup | Group Stage

Dec 1, 2022 at 3pm UK

Croatia
0 - 0
Belgium

Dendoncker (67')

Croatia vs. Belgium: How do both squads compare ahead of World Cup clash?

By Adepoju Marvellous

Published: November 30 2022 | 22:37

Last updated: December 1 2022 | 07:34

Ahead of Thursday's World Cup meeting between Croatia and Belgium, Sports Mole looks at how both squads compare, including their most valuable and top-scoring players.

Group F heavyweights Croatia and Belgium will battle it out for a place in the last 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup when they go head-to-head at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.

Zlatko Dalic's men sit top of the group at the moment and just need to avoid defeat in their final outing to secure safe passage into the knockout phase.

Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez's men are currently on the brink of elimination as they occupy third place in the group, meaning that anything less than a victory in this one would leave them relying on results elsewhere.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the squads of Croatia and Belgium weigh up against each other ahead of Thursday's contest.

CROATIA

Croatia players line up before a Nations League game in September 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Josko Gvardiol (£52m)

Overall squad value:
£326.8m

Most capped player:
Luka Modric (157)

Leading goalscorer:
Andrej Kramaric (19)

Total caps:
1010

Total goals:
129

Oldest player:
Luka Modric (37)

Youngest player:
Luka Sucic (20)

Average age:
27.4

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivo Grbic (Atletico Madrid), Ivica Ivusic (Osijek)

Defenders: Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Borna Sosa (Stuttgart), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Dejan Lovren (Zenit St Petersburg), Borna Barisic (Rangers), Domagoj Vida (AEK Athens), Josip Juranovic (Celtic), Martin Erlic (Sassuolo), Josip Sutalo (Dinamo Zagreb)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta BC), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Kristijan Jakic (Eintracht Frankfurt), Lovro Majer (Rennes), Luka Sucic (Red Bull Salzburg)

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (Tottenham Hotspur), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Marko Livaja (Hajduk Split), Bruno Petkovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Mislav Orsic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ante Budimir (Osasuna)

BELGIUM

Belgium players pose for a team group photo before the match on September 22, 2022 © Reuters

Most valuable player:
Kevin De Bruyne (£69.3m)

Overall squad value:
£487.7m

Most capped player:
Jan Vertonghen (144)

Leading goalscorer:
Romelu Lukaku (68)

Total caps:
1,388

Total goals:
248

Oldest player:
Jan Vertonghen (35)

Youngest player:
Zeno Debast (19)

Average age:
27.8

SQUAD IN FULL

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg)

Defenders: Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Toby Alderweireld (Royal Antwerp), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester City), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Timothy Castagne (Leicester City), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Amadou Onana (Everton), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)

Forwards: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce), Lois Openda (Lens)