A rest is as good as a change

GARETH SOUTHGATE was right to rest England’s key players for the game against Belgium on Thursday.

After all, we haven’t exactly left ourselves a mountain to climb to reach the final. Defeat by Belgium leaves us facing Colombia tonight; victory over Belgium would have meant a clash with Japan. Neither of those fixtures would be considered easy.

Harry Kane has had a few days’ rest and Dele Alli has had more time to get himself closer to full fitness, so it was the right thing to do.

It was more important to give people game-time than win against Belgium and Southgate (left) did that.

We’re up against a strong team in Colombia but there’s no reason not to be confident. And if we beat the South Americans, then the whole tournament opens up.