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		</div><p>Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez fought back the tears as he confirmed his side’s 0-0 draw with Croatia was his last game in the job.</p>
<p>The 49-year-old Spaniard said he will not be extending his contract, which expires at the end of Qatar 2022, after Belgium failed to get out of their group.</p>
<p>Martinez, who led Belgium to a third-placed finish at Russia 2018 after taking on the role in 2016, was asked if the hugs he gave his players after being held by Croatia were “goodbye hugs”.</p>
<p>“Yes, that was my last game with the national team,” the former Everton boss said. “This is emotional, as you can imagine. I can’t carry on (answering), sorry.”</p>
<p>When asked if he was sorry to have bowed out on a disappointing note, Martinez added: “I never look at it that way. I’m a person who likes to build things.</p>
<p>“I’ve been six years with the national team. I arrived with a clear job of qualifying for the World Cup and you get so engaged with the project and the people behind the players.</p>
<p>“And then we finished with a bronze medal (at Russia 2018) and it felt that we had to give it another go and it’s been a real joy.</p>
<p>“We’ve been able to build a real legacy, and I know a lot of people say you can only build legacy by winning a major tournament, but I see it in a different way. I’m so proud of these players.”</p>
<p>Belgium finished third in Group F, behind winners Morocco and Croatia, having previously beaten Canada 1-0 before losing 2-0 to the North Africans.</p>
<p>When explaining what had gone wrong in Qatar, Martinez said: “I think it’s very clear. You come to the World Cup and you have to play three games and we only played one.</p>
<p>“The first games we were fearful, not the team that we are. We listened to the outside noise, we were feeling the responsibility. We played thinking if we lose a game we could be out and that’s what cost us.</p>
<p>“Today was a performance and I felt we were the better team. We created better chances. Croatia are a great side and I felt today, had we gone through, you would have seen the real Belgium.”</p>
<p>Croatia, who had drawn 0-0 with Morocco and beaten Canada 4-1, finished second in Group F and in the last 16 will face the winners of Group E, which is currently led by Spain.</p>
<p>Head coach Zlatko Dalic congratulated his players on reaching the knockout phase and admitted his side had enjoyed good fortune.</p>
<p>Dalic said: “I certainly expected a difficult match against a great team. Belgium cannot play three matches in a row in a very bad manner and this was a decisive match.</p>
<p>“But Croatia were great, especially in the first hour. We had a clear penalty, but VAR ruled against us.</p>
<p>“It is to be expected that a team such as Belgium would have certain chances and I must be honest and say that we were also lucky, they didn’t take their chances in the end.”</p>
<p>Dalic, who said friend Martinez would be a big loss to Belgian football, added: “It was a great match, but very difficult match to watch, to lead and it was difficult to play, but this is football.”</p>
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