England face Colombia after defeat
ADNAN Januzaj’s stunning goal secured a much-changed Belgium side a 1-0 win over England’s second string last night, meaning Gareth Southgate’s men will face Colombia on Tuesday in the last 16 of the World Cup.
What looked like being one of the ties of the group stage instead became a rather strange encounter given talk about how finishing runners-up may be preferable.
Southgate dismissed that before seeing his team suffer their first defeat in a year, Januzaj’s effort six minutes into the second half securing a narrow victory which earned Belgium top spot in Group G and a last-16 tie against Japan.
Belgium made nine changes and England eight for the pool decider in Kaliningrad, where the teams were booed off after a tepid first half in which Gary Cahill and Trent Alexander-Arnold both cleared off the line.
If England are to overcome Colombia next week they will need to play far better than they did at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
In truth, neither side impressed once an open start tapered off.
Jamie Vardy saw an early driven cross unconvincingly stopped by Thibaut Courtois before Jordan Pickford denied Youri Tielemans from distance.
It was a Hollywood save but at least it was a stop, whereas minutes later Cahill had to come to the Everton goalkeeper’s rescue to clear off the line after Michy Batshuayi’s attempt somehow squirmed through.
Cahill and Vardy headed wide for England as the tempo slowed with Alexander-Arnold, making his second England appearance, hacking clear after Marouane Fellaini’s shot looked bound for the bottom corner.
There was not much else to talk about in a meek half which saw Belgium race ahead in the ill-discipline stakes, Tielemans and Leander Dendoncker booked for fouls on Danny Rose.
Questions over Vardy and Rashford’s chemistry grew as they toiled, only once truly connecting well as the Leicester striker put the Manchester United forward through.
Courtois’ slight touch helped take Rashford’s shot wide and substitute Welbeck, the last outfield player to represent England at this World Cup, was denied by a Fellaini block in England’s last real attack.