Southgate must go for the throat against Belgium

CARRAGHER: VICTORY WILL GIVE ENGLAND MOMENTUM AND BELIEF

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In terms of progression into the knockout stage, England’s meeting with Belgium is meaningless. In terms of determining which side are best equipped to go deep into the World Cup, it is one of the most significant games in our recent history.

Victory over Tunisia and Panama presents an opportunity Gareth Southgate could not have planned any better. Rather than treat the fixture with Belgium as a final group game, tactically and psychologically he and his staff should be drilling the message into his players that the knockout stage starts now.

Of course, technically that is not the case. England can afford to lose their next game. But we have become so unaccustomed to taking big scalps at major tournaments — particularly in the knockout rounds — I want to see England approach Thursday’s game with the mentality of a last-16 tie. This can be the perfect dress rehearsal. It might be that finishing below Belgium creates what appears to be a more “favourable” draw, avoiding Brazil or Germany in the last eight. Equally, the group’s top side may avoid a tricky last16 meeting with Senegal, who have two stars in Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr.

What looks more desirable does not always work that way — have we forgotten the prematch optimism before Iceland two years ago? England must plot their route by trying to win against Belgium rather than half-heartedly accepting a defeat, or waiting to see if the fairplay table decides the placing.

I want to see England adopt the mentality they will need against tougher opponents in the knockout stage. How often have we seen the side settle into a holding pattern where extratime or penalties loom?

Chance to experiment

If the game is level with 20 minutes remaining, what better chance to take tactical risks to open the game and go for the win, knowing it is not the end of the competition should it go wrong? Even if a draw is working to England’s advantage, there is a chance to experiment with more tactical drills with regards protecting a result. Imagine the belief in the players if their courage secures a positive outcome again Belgium. Confidence will soar.

Rather than worrying who England can meet, a message can be sent to others that England are the side everyone else should seek to avoid.

Unlike so many of our club teams in the Champions League, England have failed to show they can upset the odds when meeting higher-ranked teams.

For all the encouragement correctly taken from the first two World Cup games, that is the next albatross for Southgate’s side to remove. Talk of taking Belgium lightly because ‘it does not really matter’ is dangerous. For momentum and confidence, the impact can be much greater than wins over two weaker opponents.

Regardless of what Belgium’s manager Roberto Martinez is saying, he will feel the same. There is no way the Belgians will want to go into the knockout phase on the back of a demoralising result, regardless of what it means in terms of their next opponent.

Victory over Tunisia and Panama presents an opportunity Gareth Southgate could not have planned any better.

AP England’s John Stones is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Group G match against Panama at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Sunday. England won 6-1.