Nine days before the World Cup kicks off, two of Europe’s most decorated nations met in Rijeka for one final dress rehearsal — and Belgium sent a crystal-clear message to the rest of the tournament: the Red Devils mean business.
Belgium defeated Croatia 2-0 at Stadion HNK Rijeka on Tuesday, June 2, in a World Cup warm-up that had everything — tactical intrigue, a legendary goalkeeper producing a match-saving stop, a crossbar rattled, and the most emotional goal of the pre-tournament season. But let’s not bury the lede here.
Romelu Lukaku is back. And he looks absolutely ready.
The Return of Big Rom
If one moment defined this match, it was the 96th minute. Deep into stoppage time, with Croatia’s midfield stripped bare and chasing the game desperately, Belgium broke at lightning speed. Hans Vanaken played Lukaku clean through — and the big man, running like he had a point to prove to the entire football world, buried it past the goalkeeper with a powerful, assured finish.
The celebration? Iconic. The relief? Palpable.
This was Lukaku’s first international goal in over a year — his previous Belgium strike came against Wales in June 2025. Since then, it’s been a nightmare. A serious thigh tear in August 2025 wrecked his Napoli season, limiting him to just 64 minutes of club football all campaign. There were genuine fears he might not even be fit enough for the World Cup squad.
But Rudi Garcia kept the faith, called him up, and Lukaku repaid every bit of it in the most Lukaku way possible — arriving late, scoring when it mattered most, and sending the Red Devils fans into a frenzy. He now has 90 international goals for Belgium, and the way he moved in that final cameo, nobody’s counting him out.
How It Unfolded
Croatia started brightly in front of their passionate home crowd, with a 40-year-old Luka Modrić — yes, 40, wearing a protective face mask, and still gliding across the pitch like it’s 2018 — pulling the strings in central midfield. Modrić almost levelled the match before half-time, cutting inside the box and firing toward the far post with the outside of his boot, only for Thibaut Courtois to produce a miraculous one-handed save to claw it away. Same old Courtois. Same old Modrić. Some things never change.
But it was Belgium who drew first blood. In the 38th minute, Maxim De Cuyper found Youri Tielemans with a precise ball into the box, and the Belgian captain — named Flashscore Man of the Match — finished calmly to break the deadlock. Jeremy Doku had been a constant menace all half, tormenting his marker with electric pace, and it was his relentless pressure that helped create the goal.
The second half was cagey. Ante Budimir rattled the Croatian crossbar with a header, and for a spell Croatia looked like they might nick an equaliser. But Belgium’s defensive structure — anchored by the imperious Courtois — held firm. Then came Lukaku, the substitute, the story, the 96th-minute dagger.
What It Means Going Forward
For Belgium, this is momentum gold. The result extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches, with eight wins and four draws. They face Tunisia on Saturday before opening their World Cup campaign against Egypt on June 15. With De Bruyne orchestrating, Doku terrorising, and Lukaku — fit, hungry, and dangerous — leading the line, this Belgian generation has one final shot at glory.
For Croatia, coach Zlatko Dalić won’t lose much sleep. He was testing a new 3-4-2-1 formation he plans to use at the World Cup, and with Modrić playing 58 minutes in a face mask and still looking class, there’s plenty to be positive about. They face Slovenia on Sunday before the real business begins — a mouthwatering clash against England in Dallas on June 17.
Two legendary golden generations. One last World Cup. Both with everything still to prove.
Don’t you dare look away. ⚽🔥
