The race to qualify from Group F of the FIFA World Cup is set to go right down to the wire as Croatia and Belgium go head to head at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.
Having played out a somewhat disappointing goalless draw against Morocco in last week's group opener, Zlatko Dalic's men got their campaign back on track four days later when they claimed a 4-1 victory over Canada.
Currently 12th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, Croatia have put together a fine form, extending back to the Nations League, where they picked up four wins from their final four games before claiming a 1-0 friendly victory over Saudi Arabia on November 16.
As for Belgium, they suffered a huge blow in their quest for a fourth consecutive knockout-stage appearance since 2002 as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco last Sunday.
Prior to that, Roberto Martinez's men scrapped a slender 1-0 victory over Canada in their group opener on November 23, when Michy Batshuayi netted against the run of play to end their two-match losing streak.
With their World Cup hopes now in the balance, Belgium require victory on Thursday to guarantee their place in the last 16 as they currently sit third in Group F, one point behind Morocco and the 2018 runners-up.
However, should Morocco lose by three or more goals against Canada in the other group fixture, a draw will be enough to see the Red Devils through as they look to avoid a first group-stage exit since 1998.
Belgium will fancy their chances of getting the job done though, given their recent record against Croatia, who are winless in the last three meetings between the sides, claiming one draw and losing twice, including a 1-0 defeat in their most recent encounter in June 2021.
While Thursday's game will be their first World Cup encounter, Martinez's side are also unbeaten in three of their previous four qualifying matchups, claiming one win and two draws — with a 1-0 loss in October 2001 being the exception.
Croatia's other two victories came in March 2003, when they saw off the Red Devils 4-0 in the first leg of their European Championship qualifiers tie, and in 2007, when they secured a 1-0 friendly win at the King Baudouin Stadium.
Belgium's third and final win in the history of this fixture was in the return leg of their Euros qualification fixture in September 2003, when Wesley Sonck netted a first-half brace to condemn the Checkered Ones to a 2-1 defeat.
CROATIA VS. BELGIUM HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Croatia wins: 3
Belgium wins: 3
Draws: 2
Croatia goals: 9
Belgium goals: 6
MATCH HISTORY
September 2, 2000: Croatia 0-0 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
October 6. 2001: Croatia 1-0 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
March 29, 2003: Croatia 4-0 Belgium (UEFA European Championship Qualifiers)
September 10, 2003: Croatia 1-2 Belgium (UEFA European Championship Qualifiers)
March 3, 2010: Croatia 1-0 Belgium (International Friendly)
September 11, 2012: Croatia 1-1 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
October 11, 2013: Croatia 1-2 Belgium (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers)
June 6, 2021: Croatia 0-1 Belgium (International Friendly)
Read more on Croatia vs Belgium
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- How Croatia could line up against Belgium
- How Belgium could line up against Croatia
Joshua Ojele
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