Belgium Beats Croatia 2-0 as Lukaku Returns to Score
Belgium defeated Croatia 2-0 in Rijeka on June 2, 2026. Romelu Lukaku returned from a three‑month injury layoff and scored his 90th goal for Belgium in injury time.
Youri Tielemans opened the scoring in the 38th minute after three players half‑hit the ball and it fell to him. Lukaku netted the second goal in the 96th minute after being sent in depth in stoppage time.
Coach Rudi Garcia deployed an experimental five‑defender formation, placing midfielder Amadou Onana in the centre of defence. The setup mirrored Croatia’s five‑defender system.
Luka Modric, 40, wore a protective mask for a cheekbone fracture and attempted two shots, both off target. No further shots on target occurred in the second half.
Belgium’s unbeaten streak reached twelve matches, a run that began in March 2025. Belgium will face Tunisia in a friendly on June 6 before the World Cup, where they are drawn with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. Croatia’s recent 3‑1 defeat to Brazil in April and its previous consecutive losses in autumn 2023 leave them in a group with England, Panama and Ghana.