England, Belgium may rest top players

MOSCOW — Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku have starred in this year’s World Cup, and neither may see much playing time when England and Belgium play Thursday.

Both teams have already advanced to the round of 16, and the match in Kaliningrad will only determine the Group G finishing order. The low stakes have created speculation as to how England and Belgium will use their players, and if finishing first or second in the group would be more advantageous.

The winners and runners-up will end up on different sides of the draw following the match.

Kane is the leading scorer at the World Cup with five goals, including a hat trick against Panama. Kane became the third Englishman after Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker to score a hat trick in a World Cup match.

“He’s sitting really proudly at the top. He’s gone ahead of some major, major names in English football history in terms of World Cup goals,” England coach Gareth Southgate said. “That should make him incredibly proud, but he also knows the team is the most important thing and we have to make decisions that are right for the team.”

Lukaku has scored four goals from four shots on target for Belgium. But he did not train with the team earlier this week and will likely be rested. Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens are all nursing injuries after Belgium’s 5-2 victory over Tunisia.

England and Belgium have identical records and goal tallies heading into their group decider, so a draw in Kaliningrad would mean tiebreaker rules would determine the group winner.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s other matches:

JAPAN VS. POLAND

Poland has already been eliminated from advancing but Japan can move on to the round of 16 with a draw, and even a loss with help from other teams. Moving on in the tournament would be a surprise for Japan coach Akira Nishino, who didn’t even have the job three months ago. The team also wasn’t sure if Keisuke Honda would be able to play in Russia. The Japan Football Association fired coach Vahid Halilhodzic in April because of underwhelming play and supposed friction with senior players. Nishino came in and organized the squad and ensured Honda, who had a poor relationship with his former coach, would be part of the tournament.

SENEGAL VS. COLOMBIA

Both Colombia and Senegal are trying to advance out of Group H in the match in Samara. Colombia can advance if it beats Senegal, and both team cans advance with a draw if Japan loses its match to Poland.

PANAMA VS. TUNISIA

Tunisia and Panama have already been eliminated so each team will be trying to leave the World Cup with a respectful performance. Tunisia is winless in its last 13 World Cup matches, with four draws and nine losses.