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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Alex Young

Croatia vs Belgium lineups: Lukaku on bench - starting XIs, confirmed team news, injury latest at World Cup

Romelu Lukaku is again not fit enough to start as Belgium look to keep their World Cup dreams alive against Croatia.

The striker had a fitness-building cameo against Morocco after injury but will have to again come off the bench this afternoon, with Dries Mertens favoured up top. Michy Batshuayi makes way.

Roberto Martinez has shaken things up with both Hazard brothers, Eden and Thorgan, also among the substitutes. Yannick Carrasco and Leandro Trossard come in.

Mvom Onana is suspended so Leandro Dendoncker comes in.

Croatia make less changes as they need just a point to secure a knockout stage spot.

Captain Luka Modric starts despite being one booking away from suspension. Marko Livaja replaced Nikola Vlasic and clicked in a forward line alongside Andrej Kramaric and Ivan Perisic against Canada and keeps his place.

Confirmed team news

Croatia: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic

Subs: Stanisic, Barisic, Erlic, Majer, Grbic, Vlasic, Pasalic, Petkovic, Budimir, Orsic, Vida, Ivusic, Sutalo, Sucic, Jakic

Belgium: Courtois, Meunier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Castagne, Dendoncker, Witsel, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Trossard, Mertens.

Subs: Theate, Faes, Tielemans, Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Mignolet, Casteels, Thorgan Hazard, Vanaken, De Ketelaere, Batshuayi, Openda, Doku, Debast

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