PLAYING FOR
THIBAUT COURTOIS said pride will be the main factor at stake when England and Belgium meet on Thursday to decide which of them wins Group G.
With both already through to the last 16 after two wins, there is less pressure on either side than there might otherwise have been for the final group game in Kaliningrad.
But Chelsea keeper Courtois claimed neither side will want to lose and said bragging rights will be the motivation in a game dominated by Premier League players, many from the same club.
“For me, there is pride,” said Courtois. “I don’t want to go back to England in July with a losing feeling. I want to win. I think everyone feels that way.
“Obviously, we’ve qualified and maybe England will rest some players. We have some guys with a yellow card, who we don’t want to be missing for the last 16.
“It will be different because it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, because we are through. So in that way, it’s less nerves maybe going into the game for everyone. But it’s about prestige England Belgium Tunisia Panama – everybody wants to win. They have a lot of guys we know and we have a lot of guys they know.
“People say it will depend on who we play in the next round but, in that group [Group H], all four teams are really tough.
“So I don’t think it matters if you finish second or first. But if you want to have that winning feeling, it’s best to keep winning.”
Belgium were outstanding in demolishing Tunisia 5-2, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku both scoring twice in the rout in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium.
But both came off carrying slight injuries, with boss Roberto Martinez almost certain to leave them out against England, to ensure they are fully fit to figure in the last 16.
And with Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen among those a booking away from missing the last 16 through suspension, they are also likely to be rested.
“We don’t know if we are going to do changes or not, so it’s going to be tactical in a way,” said Vertonghen.
“It’s going to be interesting to see the guys at such a stage. My team-mates are my friends, so it’s going to be very funny.”
Belgium are on a formidable run of 21 games unbeaten, 22 0 0 6 2 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 2 -4 2 0 0 2 -8 6 6 0 0 including friendlies, and have emerged as one of the most exciting teams in Russia.
Blessed with an abundance of attacking talent, led by Hazard, Lukaku and De Bruyne, few teams will want to meet the Red Devils, although Tunisia were able to expose their defensive vulnerabilities, something England will also look to exploit.
“We have the experience now from previous tournaments and, hopefully, we can take that into the next round,” said Vertonghen. “We’re reaching a good level, but you can always do better.”
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who is set to leave the club when his contract expires on Saturday, said confidence was high in the
Belgium camp.
“The performance was there, we scored five goals, and the confidence is good, so we have to keep going,” he said.
“Everyone knows we have quality players and, slowly, we’ve started to be a team, which is important.
“We play together and fight together – the spirit is there. So let’s see in the next game and after that too.”