Belgium 2 - Wales 0; Croatia 1 - Macedonia 0

The crowd in Zagreb were eagerly awaiting their first chance to see Croatia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Today, the opponents were Macedonia.  Eduardo nearly welcomed the visitors with a goal in the first minute, but his header hit a post.  Macedonia from thereon out were the better team in the first period.  Centerback Vance Sikov headed a Macedonia corner on frame, but it was cleared off the lead.  Goran Pandev then fired off the crossbar from twenty-five yards for the visitors.  The half would end at 0-0 with the Croatian goal living a charmed life.

Croatia were able to find the goal they wanted with just over twenty minutes left in the match.  A slow-moving buildup allowed four Croatians to surge into the visitors' box, and a lack of pressure allowed Luka Modric to pick out a cross, which was well headed back across the face of goal for an easy finish for Nikica Jelavic.  Croatia hold on for a 1-0 win.

Group A favorites Belgium, fresh off a 4-2 friendly win against the Netherlands, were in Cardiff to face Wales in both team's opening fixtures.  The Welsh had the upper hand early, but any chance of obtaining a result was lost early.  James Collins was given a straight red card in minute 26 for a devastating tackle of Guillaume Gillet, leaving the Welsh to face the prospect of playing down a man for over an hour.  After a quarter hour with an extra man, Belgium found the breakthrough.  Dries Mertens whipped a corner onto the head of Vincent Kompany, who proceeded to head with authority for a 1-0 halftime lead.

Gareth Bale hit a free kick well in an attempt to equalize, but the goalkeeper was up to the challenge and denied Wales their first goal.  The Belgians sealed the win late with a well-worked free kick.  The dead ball was pushed ever so slightly to the left, allowing Jan Vertonghen an unimpeded look at goal with the wall rooted in place.  Vertonghen absolutely crushed his shot, which tailed away from the goalkeeper and into the side of the net for a 2-0 lead.  Belgium saw the match out, and they win 2-0.

Goals
Croatia
Nikica Jelavic 69

Belgium
Vincent Kompany 41
Jan Vertonghen 83

Match Reports:
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/09/08/jelavic-gives-lacklustre-croatia-10-win-over-macedonia/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1697281/index.html
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wales-football-team/2012/09/07/world-cup-2014-qualifier-wales-0-belgium-2-55578-31791668/
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-08/top-stories/33695842_1_wales-marc-wilmots-vertonghen
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1697248/index.html

Highlights:
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/09/08/jelavic-gives-lacklustre-croatia-10-win-over-macedonia/ (Croatia v. Macedonia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvqQmRUV5yg (Belgium v. Wales)