Croatia plays Belgium on Friday in a World Cup Qualifying match. The game starts at 12 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local). Watch the free live stream HERE.
Belgium is one draw away from securing a spot in the 2014 World Cup. The Belgium club has its Group A under control, IB Times reports. Belgium boss Marc Roberts Wilmots has guided his team to seven wins and a draw in eight qualifying matches.
"Why wait if we can qualify immediately? This is our philosophy and we are not counting on a second chance against Wales because we are going to Croatia to win," said Wilmots, via IB Times.
Croatia, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from its surprising 0-1 loss to Scotland in June. More importantly, Croatia is looking to qualify for its first major international tournament since the 2002 World Cup, SB Nation reports. Nabbing the win from Belgium's dangerous lineup won't be easy, but Croatia is confident they have a chance to walk away with three points.
"The atmosphere in the dressing room is still good but it's a poor one around it because Belgium are firmly in the driving seat and that's where we wanted to be at this stage," Croatia's Vedran Corluka admitted to reporters, according to IB Times.
"There is no point in looking back at what might have been but I think that although the Belgians are a class act, they are not better than us. We showed that in Brussels and we will show that in Zagreb too."
Projected Lineups (via SB Nation):
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Ivan Strinic, Dejan Lovren, Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka; Luka Modric, Ognjen Vukojevic; Ivan Rakitic, Ivica Olic, Eduardo; Mario Mandzukic.
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Nicolas Lombaerts, Jan Vertonghen, Daniel van Buyten, Toby Alderweireld; Steven Defour, Maroune Fellaini, Axel Witsel; Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku, Nacer Chadli.
