Play-off questions and answers

England play Belgium in the World Cup’s third-place play-off in St Petersburg today. Here, Courier Sport turns the spotlight on the fixture.

Do teams take this play-off seriously? This is open to debate. Both England and Belgium have said they are approaching the game seriously but history shows this fixture is generally unloved and usually forgotten quickly. Having lost semi-finals and missed out on the chance to claim the big prize, teams can find it difficult to motivate themselves. Four years ago Holland coach Louis van Gaal made his thoughts clear, claiming the match was “unfair” on his players and should not be played.

What is there to gain? In theory, the title of third place in the World Cup is not something to be sniffed at but, in reality, both teams will be remembered in years to come as beaten semi-finalists, rather than bronze medallists. Outside of the Olympics, third place carries little weight in tournament football. However, there is extra prize money at stake. The third-placed team will take home £18 million and fourth-placed £16.6m. And while some may see the game as little more than a friendly, it is a competitive international. The Fifa ranking points could also come in handy when it comes to future seedings.

Are there any other benefits? Harry Kane will certainly think so as the game gives him the chance to add to the six goals he has already scored in the tournament and win the Golden Boot with an impressive tally. Only once in the last 10 World Cups – Ronaldo in 2002 – has this award been won by any player scoring more than six. Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who has scored four, may also hope to at least draw level with Kane. Just Fontaine’s 13 goals in 1958 included four in the third-place play-off. Other Golden Boot winners to have netted in the game include Eusebio (1966), Toto Schillachi (1990), Davor Suker (1998) and Thomas Muller (2010).

That aside, is there much enthusiasm? It remains to be seen how the players perform but Chris Waddle, a member of the England side that last played in a third-place play-off in 1990, appeared to speak for many in the country by saying: “I don’t know anybody who wants to play in this game.” Gareth Southgate will be able to give run-outs to his fringe players but Waddle doesn’t agree with that. “Just give them both bronze medals and send them home,” he told BBC Radio Five Live.

Why was the fixture introduced? The play-off was first introduced as a consolation match for the beaten semi-finalists in the 1934 tournament. After the final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome, an Olympic-style ceremony featuring Germany, winners of the playoff in Naples the previous day, took place.