YOU LOST BATTLE... NOW WIN THE WAR
First loss – but now bring on Colombia
ENGLAND lost their World Cup battle with Belgium last night – yet may well now win the war.
A 51st-minute curling 15-yard strike by former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj saw the Belgians win 1-0 in Kaliningrad.
But despite the defeat the Three Lions – who rested EIGHT players from their normal starting XI – still qualified for the last 16 to play Colombia on Tuesday following victories over Tunisia and Panama in their opening two matches.
By finishing runner-up in Group G they face a potentially easier path to the final through the knockout stages.
Gareth Southgate’s stars will relish taking on Colombia at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium in the last 16.
If they can overcome the South Americans the highest-ranked team they would face before the final would be sixthplaced Switzerland.
England have only lost three times to them in 27 matches. They would play either the Swiss or Sweden in a quarterfinal followed by a semi against Spain, Croatia, Denmark or host nation Russia.
Cheaper
England knocked out Spain, the highest ranked in Euro 96 and beat them in the 1980 European Championships.
They have not recently been beaten in tournaments by any of the others.
Sports data analysts Gracenote said by finishing runners-up England stand a
35% chance of reaching the semis.
If they had won Group G their odds would only have been 24% as Belgium are now in the side of the draw with four of the world’s top seven ranked teams.
If Belgium beat Japan in Monday’s
last-16 clash in Rostov-on-Don they face a quarter-final against either Brazil or Mexico – followed by a semi against Uruguay, Portugal, France or Argentina.
Belgium’s manager Roberto Martinez had declared before facing England that “the priority is not to win” fancying an easier route to the final.
But England fans had a boost as following them to the final will cost £500 less as they won’t have to travel as far with cheaper hotel bills.
England fan Nigel Booth, 55, a surveyor from Ripponden, West Yorks, said: “Although we lost that’s much better for us fans. It’s a far better scenario. That saves us a lot of money and travelling time.”
John Sims, 47, from Bradford, an asbestos removal worker, said: “It’s disappointing to lose but now it’s an easier trip to Moscow. Now everything’s in Moscow apart from one game in Samara. I just hope it doesn’t dent our confidence.”