Soccer-Belgium finally get World Cup showdown with Croatia

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group F - Belgium v Morocco - Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar - November 27, 2022 Belgium coach Roberto Martinez reacts REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

DOHA (Reuters) - When Belgium were beaten by France in their 2018 World Cup semi-final there was some grumbling that the better team had lost and the so-called 'golden generation' had been robbed of their place in the final against Croatia.

Fast-forward four years and Belgium will get the chance to show what might have been against the Croats in a Group F encounter on Thursday that may lack the prestige of the tournament's showpiece finale but remains an acutely important game for both sides.