DE BRUYNE PLAY PLEA

KEVIN DE BRUYNE and Eden Hazard are desperate to put one over on England even though Roberto Martinez wants to rest them.

The Belgium boss is considering making up to 10 changes for Thursday’s clash that will decide who wins Group G and who goes through as runner-up.

De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen and Thomas Meunier are a booking away from getting suspended for the last-16 tie, Hazard could be rested and Romelu Lukaku is carrying an injury.

But Manchester City’s De Bruyne and Hazard (above) of Chelsea told Martinez they want the chance to front up against their club team-mates and Premier League rivals. De Bruyne is eager to lay down a marker against England, who currently top the group. They and Belgium (above training yesterday) are level on points and have scored and conceded the same number of goals. England are ahead because they have received one yellow card fewer, but boss Martinez privately believes finishing second may be an advantage with an easier passage through the knockout phase. “Changes could be an option,” he said. “Every player deserves to play so it’s more important for me to be able to give that opportunity. “Nobody has got a place guaranteed.”