England manager Gareth Southgate admits the World Cup third-place play-off is a game that no team wants to play, but tomorrow’s match against Belgium offers the chance to finish the tournament on a winning note.
A gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Croatia after extra-time denied England a shot at a second World Cup triumph, instead setting up a consolation game against familiar foes Belgium.
Roberto Martinez’s side, who were beaten 1-0 by France in the last four, topped Group G ahead of England after an Adnan Januzaj goal settled a low-key encounter in Kaliningrad.
That game saw both coaches heavily rotate their teams, and a similar scenario is likely in Saint Petersburg, with several fringe players pushing for a start.
European teams have claimed third place at the past nine World Cups. The Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 in 2014 after the hosts were embarrassed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.
England skipper Harry Kane is the tournament’s top scorer on six goals, while Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku trails by two in the race for the Golden Boot.
Head-to-head: England 15 wins, Belgium 3 wins, 4 draws
World Cup 2018 stats for Belgium and England
Belgium
- Goals - 14
- Shots, on Target - 36
- Shots, Total (inc. Blocks) - 94
- Possession - 54.7%
- Passes - 3125
- Passing Accuracy - 86.2%
- Goals Conceded - 6
- Shots Faced (inc. Blocks) - 91
- Shots on Target Faced - 27
England
- Goals - 12
- Shots, on Target - 23
- Shots, Total (inc. Blocks) - 79
- Possession - 53.15%
- Passes - 3167
- Passing Accuracy - 83.9%
- Goals Conceded - 6
- Shots Faced (inc. Blocks) - 70
- Shots on Target Faced - 21
Belgium goalscorers
- Romelu Lukaku - 4
- Eden Hazard - 2
- Narouane Fellaini - 1
- Michy Batshuayi - 1
- Nacer Chadli - 1
- Kevin De Bruyne - 1
- Dries Mertens - 1
- Jan Vertonghen - 1
- Adnan Januzaj - 1
England goalscorers
- Harry Kane - 6
- John Stones - 2
- Jesse Lingard - 1
- Harry Maguire - 1
- Dele Alli - 1
- Kieran Trippier - 1
Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg)
Defenders:
Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Leander
Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas
Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan
Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders:
Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion),
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur),
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad),
Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian)
Forwards:
Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Thorgan Hazard
(Borussia Monchengladbach), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries
Mertens (Napoli)
Stand-By: Laurent Ciman (LAFC)
England squad
Goalkeepers: 1) Jordan Pickford (Everton), 13) Jack Butland (Stoke), 23) Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders:
22) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), 2) Kyle Walker (Man City), 12)
Kieran Trippier, 3) Danny Rose (all Tottenham), 6) Harry Maguire
(Leicester), 16) Phil Jones (Man Utd), 5) John Stones (Man City), 15)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
Midfielders:
8) Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), 4) Eric Dier, 20) Dele Alli (both
Tottenham), 7) Jesse Lingard, 18) Ashley Young (both Man Utd), 17)
Fabian Delph (Man City), 21) Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Forwards:
10) Raheem Sterling (Man City), 11) Jamie Vardy (Leicester), 9) Harry
Kane (Tottenham), 19) Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), 14) Danny Welbeck
(Arsenal)
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