GOLDEN DEGENERATION

End of an era as Belgium's group of stars limp out after tame draw against Croatia

- Sazali Abdul Aziz

GROUP F

Croatia 0 Belgium 0

Canada 1 Morocco 2

AL RAYYAN, Qatar - The sight of Romelu Lukaku, hands on his head, eyes bulging and jaw hanging, will be the enduring image from Belgium's woeful World Cup campaign in Qatar. The curtain finally came down on their "Golden Generation" of players on Thursday night after a group-stage exit following their failure to beat Croatia at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

How fitting it was that Lukaku's reaction came after he squandered a gilt-edged opportunity. For Belgium have missed a trick by not winning a single trophy despite boasting some of the world's most talented players over the last decade.

The world No. 2 side, who finished third at the 2018 World Cup, needed to beat Croatia in their final Group F tie but were held to a goal-less draw.

Croatia, who lost to France in the 2018 final, can now begin to dream of another unlikely run as they progressed to the knockout rounds along with Morocco, who beat already-eliminated Canada 2-1 in the group's other game, played at the Al Thumama Stadium at the same time.