Courtois: I do not want to go back to England if we lose

“Don’t come to the World Cup if you want to see teams score five,” said Didier Deschamps following France’s two laboured wins. He clearly had not reckoned on either just how good Belgium and England would be or perhaps quite how bad Tunisia and Panama are.

Whatever the explanation for such a two-sided group, it all means a big quandary is looming for both teams on Thursday, when there is a very definite theory that winning the match and topping Group G could actually create a far greater obstacle to reaching the final.

Germany or Brazil now look odds-on to appear in the quarter where the winners will go, even if the clear consensus among the Belgium players, who are now unbeaten in 21 games, is that the greatest danger just now rests in a loss of momentum.

There is also the additional matter of pride. More than half the Belgium squad play their club football in England and, according to Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, this is another important consideration.

“If you want to have that winning feeling, it’s best to keep on winning,” said Courtois. “I don’t want to go back to England in July with a losing feeling.” Vertonghen predicted that the familiarity would make the match quite tactical. “It’s going to be interesting to see the guys at such a stage – my team-mates are my friends,” he said.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez had already said there would be “major changes” on Thursday and it seems certain Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens will all be rested after a series of minor injuries in the win against Tunisia.

Yellow cards – which could decide who tops Group G in the event of a draw with England – may also be considered in the context of resting players, with Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Meunier and Vertonghen among those already to have been booked.

There is clearly also growing respect for England, who are considered a much more dangerous opponent than at recent tournaments. “England have improved a lot in the last couple of years,” said Toby Alderweireld. “They have a very young, talented squad.”

The Belgium players were given time off to see their families after the Tunisia win, but are themselves under even greater pressure than Gareth Southgate’s squad. They have received the same “Golden Generation” billing of previous England teams and, having returned to major international tournament football in 2014 after a 12-year gap, have only so far peaked with quarter-finals in both the 2014 World Cup and then the European Championship two years ago.

Lukaku, who with Hazard scored two goals on Saturday, acknowledged it could be a case of now or never for a group who have grown up together through the various Belgium age groups.

“This might be the last tournament for our generation because a few players are going to retire so we’re playing for them and trying to leave a bit of history,” said Lukaku, who has four goals already, equal with Cristiano Ronaldo, but one fewer than Harry Kane.

“Romelu is very focused, he wants to prove himself,” said Alderweireld. “We want to do something special, but we are keeping two feet on the ground.”