National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Vedran Ćesić made in the 8th minute of the game a quick throw-in and Tonko Petrlin immediately put the ball in play. In the 18th minute, Mbaka Mbolu got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Manuel Campens made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nikola Vlašić in the 19th minute of play. In the 25th minute, Lovro Majer left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Croatia fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. After 37 minutes, Nikola Vlašić mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Croatia and the Belgium players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 37th match minute, Croatia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nikola Vlašić to maneuver through the defense. In the 38th minute, Mbaka Mbolu left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Belgium fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 43rd minute of the match, Wolf De Hond got a very nice opportunity to score, but Nebojša Jerić was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. 47 minutes into the match, Croatia's goal looked a bit too open when Mbaka Mbolu came free, but Nebojša Jerić reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line.

Croatia made a substitution. Luka Mata replaced Nikola Vlašić. The audience was convinced that Mbaka Mbolu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nebojša Jerić was relentless in the 53rd minute of the game. The Belgium fans' excitement grew in the 55th match minute when Belgium's Mbaka Mbolu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. An unexpectedly hard shot by Marko Livaja in the 58th minute of play forced Belgium's goalkeeper Manuel Campens to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Manuel Campens took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marko Livaja, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 66thth minute of the game Mbaka Mbolu who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Croatia's Nebojša Jerić was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 68 minutes into the game, Mbaka Mbolu cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Nebojša Jerić was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Croatia's Miran Tudor was substituted for Joško Poklepović. 73 minutes into the match, Mbaka Mbolu had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Nebojša Jerić. Croatia's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Mbaka Mbolu was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 4-1. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mbaka Mbolu in the 76th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nebojša Jerić prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the last second Manuel Campens throw himself and got hold of the ball when Tonko Petrlin in the 80thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Nebojša Jerić took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Mbaka Mbolu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nebojša Jerić made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mbaka Mbolu in the 96th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Belgium had won after a very even match.