Why England and Belgium may be plotting to finish second...

TO WIN, or not to win? Tug some jersey, or avoid yellow cards? England and Belgium face a World Cup conundrum ahead of Thursday’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 winner risks 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 Wednesday’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.

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 winner faces 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.

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

But where coming second in Group G had once seemed a route to a fearful appointment in Samara with Germany in the quarter-final, the holders now seem unlikely to win Group F. Germany – or Brazil if they overcome stutters to win Group E – are now more likely to stand in the way of whoever tops Group G.

Belgium’s Martinez insisted he was giving no thought to the issue. And he warned: “Football has got a strange knack of punishing you when you don’t treat things professionally.”

That was a sentiment echoed in the English press: “Always dangerous to try and finish second as you think passage might be easier,” wrote the “Come unstuck, then you open yourself up to criticism.”

speculated on Twitter: “So England play for a draw, then pick up two sneaky bookings in the last 5 mins to make sure they finish second and avoid Brazil/ Germany QF. Not Southgate’s style.”

But Brussels’ said the Belgians, keen to improve on a 2014 quarter-final exit, had been considering how to avoid meeting Brazil at that stage: “There is,” he said, “A great temptation to let England finish first.” – Reuters PROTEAS spinner Keshav Maharaj is eager to make a significant impact in white-ball cricket.

The Dolphins bowler is in the Proteas squad which will face Sri Lanka next month in a five-match ODI series.

The series will commence on July 29 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium and end on August 12 in Colombo.

The two nations will first battle it out in a two-match Test series, with the first game to be played at Galle on July 12.

The selectors rested the incumbent spinner Imran Tahir and opted for Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi in the ODI set-up. The series in Sri Lanka is being considered part of the preparations for the World Cup in England and Wales next year. Speaking on Friday at Kingsmead, Maharaj said he wants to give his best shot in Sri Lanka.

“It is every youngster’s dream to play in the World Cup. I would love to play all three formats for my country, whether at the World Cup or in a T20 match.

“I want to be playing cricket for my country and to represent with pride and honour. Every game is an opportunity for you to display your capabilities and skills. I’m really looking forward to the series and I’m excited,” Maharaj said with a smile.

Maharaj has already made two appearances for the Proteas in ODIs.

He made his debut last year against England in Southampton. Maharaj is already one of the important players in the Proteas’ potent attack in the Test set-up, having taken 74 wickets in 20 matches.

“I’m still trying to find my feet in international cricket, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to contribute with the bat,” he said. “I want to be an all-rounder. I don’t want to be only the bowler who can just land the ball there and there, and that’s it. I want to be consistent with my batting as well.”

The Proteas will be looking to bounce back following a humiliating 5-1 series defeat to India at home in an ODI series last summer.

“We back our preparations. It is important to stay consistent. We want to be the best team in all formats,” the ambitious Maharaj explained.

The conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to be spin-friendly, but Maharaj doesn’t want to focus too much on that.

“Whether the conditions will be spinning or not, I need to put the ball in the right areas consistently. I will make sure that I put it in the right areas,” Maharaj said.

The Proteas will be playing for the first time without the retired AB de Villiers. “We have an amazing bunch of guys and a good leader in Faf (Du Plessis). AB de Villiers is a massive loss for us. Moving forward we have a lot of young upcoming talent. There are some youngsters who will take the opportunity and fulfil the role that AB played for the team,” Maharaj said.