‘Strange match’ for England and Belgium
WITHOUT PRESSURE With qualification secured for knockout stage, the two teams are likely to rest their key players for final group game SAINT PETERSBURG:
England and Belgium, already qualified from World Cup Group G, meet on Thursday in what Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini says could be a “strange match”.
Depending on the outcome of other games, it may not be an advantage to finish top of the group, but both sides insist they won’t take such calculations into account.
What is likely, however, is that Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and his English counterpart Gareth Southgate will rest some of their regular starters and give match time to back-up squad players.
Both teams have beaten Tunisia and Panama to reach six points and secure passage to the last 16, so the anticipated battle between the two strongest sides in the group has lost its edge.
“I think it will be an interesting game, a 50-50 game, and both teams are qualified so it will be a strange game,” said Fellaini, who plays in England for Manchester United, having made his name for another Premier League club Everton.
Martinez has suggested he could make wholesale changes to his side but at the very least is expected to rest defender Jan Vertonghen, winger Thomas Meunier and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who have all picked up a yellow card. A second yellow would mean they would be suspended for the round of 16 game.
Southgate acknowledges there is a balance to be struck between keeping his side fresh and injury-free and maintaining the momentum they have gained, particularly from the 6-1 crushing of Panama.
“I’ve got to think through all of those things: competition for places, players who need match minutes, and keeping the unity of the squad,” said the England manager.
Harry Kane’s involvement is one of the tricky decisions facing Southgate.
The England captain has scored five goals in two games, including his hat-trick against Panama, and while his manager will be reluctant to leave him on the bench, his centrality to England’s hopes is such that he may be wary of him picking up an injury.
Topping Group G means playing whoever will have finished second in Group H earlier on England’s captain Harry Kane has led from the front, scoring five of the team’s eight goals in the tournament so far. He is also currently leading the race for the Golden Boot and will be eager to further extend that lead today. Raheem
Sterling has had just one attempt on target from the two games and is likely to be replaced by the energetic Marcus Rashford, who has already netted three times from his 20 appearances for England. England’s five-man midfield will have to do much better as they go deeper into the tournament. The lack of creativity in midfield could cost them heavily. Kane’s positioning rescued them in the first game against Tunisia. Defender John Stones headed home from two set-pieces and Kane scored from two penalties and a deflection against Panama. Dele Alli will have to try and create more chances from open play. England have conceded two goals against far less threatening oppositions, including letting in Panama’s first-ever World Cup goal. The defensive line was sloppy on several occasions against Tunisia giving up possession far too easily. Centre-back John Stones though, impressed with two goals from thundering headers. Jordan Pickford was not at fault for the first goal England conceded from the penalty spot but has had very little work to do so far. Apart from making one save so far he was beaten by Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi, despite touching the ball with his finger-tips. Thursday — Colombia, Senegal or Japan. But the path to the quarterfinal could see a match against Germany or Brazil for the winner — a question which Belgium are likely to miss the services of their main striker,
Romelu Lukaku, who has contributed half of
Belgium’s eight goals from the opening two matches. Eden Hazard though will play against England and has been superb, scoring twice and assisting once. Youri Tielemans and Michy Batshuayi, who came off the bench and combined to score Belgium’s fifth against Tunisia will want to make an impact. Belgium’s main playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has had a hand in only one of the team’s eight goals so far. The Premier League’s top provider will have to play a bigger role against more adept opponents. With Roberto Martinez likely to start Nacer Chadli and Adnan Januzaj, giving the duo a chance to stake their claim for a starting spot against the likes of Yannick Carrasco and Alex Witsel, who have nothing to show in the opening two games. Belgium were caught out twice by Tunisia in their 5-2 win over the African side but will have to be far more alert at the back against England. The good news for Belgium though will be the possible return of first-choice defenders Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen, who trained with the group ahead of the England tie. Thibaut Courtois conceded twice against Tunisia in their last outing despite having very little to do. He has made five saves so far and will have to be at his best moving forward, with opposition attack only getter better. will be determined before England and Belgium clash in Kaliningrad.
This will be the fourth meeting of the two nations in major tournaments. They have drawn twice in group stage games, and their last-16 match in the 1990 World Cup saw England win 1-0 after extra-time.
Meanwhile, Dele Alli was back training on Monday and his availability after recovering from a thigh strain will be a boost to the England midfield. Venue: Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad Capacity: 33,973