To win or lose? That is the question

MOSCOW: To win, or not to win? Tug some jersey, or avoid yellow cards? England and Belgium face a World Cup conundrum ahead of tomorrow’s crunch in Kaliningrad – is it better to finish second rather than win Group G? Coaches Gareth Southgate and Roberto Martinez play down such talk.

Yet a troubled start for Germany means the Group G winners risk coming across either the defending champions or a feared Brazil earlier in the knockout rounds. England and Belgium will have a better idea of future opponents after today’s games.

Since England’s 6-1 defeat of Panama on Sunday, both are sure to progress from Group G to the last 16 with, for now, identical points and goal tallies for and against. A draw would hand first place to the one with the better disciplinary record.

If that too were tied, a FIFA official would draw lots.

Whoever comes second would also play two of the three knockout rounds to the final in the comfort of Moscow – where Belgium have their camp – whereas the winners face thousands of air miles taking in Rostov-on-Don, Kazan and St. Petersburg.

England coach Southgate is unsure winning is an advantage: “We’ve got to think that through,” he said when asked if he might field a weaker side against Belgium.

Like Belgium’s Martinez, he will balance consistency against giving first-choice legs a rest and giving others game time.

A late strike for Panama cost England on goal difference, Southgate noted, leaving their only advantage over Belgium in having picked up just two yellow cards to the Belgians’ three.

“We still are top of the disciplinary count,” Southgate told the BBC. “But we don’t really know if that is going to be an advantage.”

Topping Group G means playing whoever will have finished second in Group H tomorrow – Colombia, Senegal or Japan. Southgate said he was fairly indifferent on that.