Belgium 2, England 0
Belgium scored twice to secure a third place finish at the World Cup but a tired England had already won back the trust and belief of fans back home in a much harder fought battle in this tournament even if they couldn’t match the Belgians for quality in a game they deservedly won.
Thomas Meunier’s early goal woke England up to the danger presented by a full strength Belgium side but it took until Kevin De Bruyne combined with Eden Hazard to cut England to shreds eight minutes from time, with Hazard tucking in the finish, before Belgium could be sure that they had won.
Meunier was the tenth different Belgian player to score at these World Cup finals – what would they have made of a run to to the final as kind as England’s?
A poor first touch twice denied Romelu Lukaku a chance to challenge Harry Kane for the Golden Boot for a chance to put England out of the game before Hazard finished Gareth Southgate’s tired team off.
England know where they will need to improve for the Euro 2020 campaign and could bring back previously injured players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana while younger prospects such as Phil Foden and Ryan Sessegnon might be able to make a case for future England squads.
Unlike the reserve teams that faced off in the group stage, these were two strong teams and aside from an early loss of concentration and sloppy defending England did hold the Belgians at bay but there was no doubt about the quality of the full strength Belgians who ran the game and pressurised England’s defenders throughout the first half.
England may have made more passes and with greater accuracy than the Belgians but the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard carved out the more dangerous chances while England’s best chances fell to Eric Dier in the second half.
Kane snatched at England’s best chance of the first half after Raheem Sterling has played him in but in truth England were cut to pieces by the Belgian quality.
Gareth Southgate made five changes to the England side that faced off against a very strong Belgium side as both sides made it clear they weren’t going to throw this match in St Petersburg.
Having played extra time and with a day less rest than the Belgians, Southgate named a new midfield trio of Eric Dier, Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the place of Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli while Phil Jones and Danny Rose came in for Kyle Walker and Ashley Young.
Belgium went for just two changes. Thomas Meunier was suspended for the semi final against France but he returned along side Youri Tielemans as Marouane Fellaini and Mousa Dembele missed out on the 63rd game of the World Cup.
Thomas Meunier gets Belgium off to an early start
Meunier ensured the Belgians got off to the quick start within four minutes when he slid in to meet Nacer Chadli’s cross having got the better of Rose. The move was started by Romelu Lukaku from a deep midfield role as Trippier didn’t get close enough and allowed Chali to cross for Meunier.
De Bruyne was in good form and his backheel was wasted as his team mates didn’t make the anticipated run. Both he and Hazard led the
Lukaku found De Bruyne in the 12th minute – a bobbling pass not cleared by England’s reeling defence – but Pickford got a hand to the ball – while Hazard also dangerously lurked in front of the defence waiting for the space to open up.
De Bruyne’s first time ball to Lukaku carved England up yet again with just 17 minutes on the clock with Belgium looking dangerous every time they ventured near the England box.
At least Fabian Delph forced a save out of Courtois with a tame effort, while Loftus-Cheek’s header from Kieran Trippier’s right wing cross didn’t really test the Chelsea goalkeeper and Raheem Sterling fond himself crowded out by Belgian defenders when the ball got to him.
At least England’s set pieces still worried the Belgians – Harry Maguire got his head on an early Trippier corner but Courtois once again had a easy save to make.
England’s best chance came in the 24th minute when Dier’s long pass found Sterling in the box. Sterling laid it off to Harry Kane who snatched at the chance and sent it wide.
But the Belgians had control the of the game, passing around England who needed a brave block by Stones to prevent a goal from Hazard while Alderweireld’s reverse kick went over the bar. Stones also denied Lukaku from going through on goal with Pickford after blocking the path for him too as England struggled.
England rally in the second half but it’s not enough
Not even the loss of Nacer Chadli upset the Belgians, the makeshift wing back was withdrawn after a hamstring injury after 39 minutes but the Belgians still cruised through England’s tired attempts to press the ball.
Gareth Southgate made two chances at the break, with Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling making way for Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford at the break and Fabian Delph switching to left back.
England, however, remained largely static with Harry Kane lacking movement as he had for much of the knockout stages.
Set pieces remained a specialty for England and Stones was denied by Vermaelen while De Bruyne sent Lukaku clear only for a poor touch by the Manchester United forward to allow Pickford time to rush out and pick up the loose ball before the big striker could regain his composure.
With 20 minutes to go, Eric Dier exchanged passes with Rashford and dinked the ball over Courtois only to see his Spurs clubmate Jan Vertonghen clear off the line with England team mates waiting for the cut back.
Dier headed wide three minutes later after Lingard sent the ball across the face of goal while Maguire headed a Trippier set piece into the side netting.
Dries Mertens sent another delicious De Bruyne through ball wide but England were improving in the second half but Pickford kept England in the game with a great save after a volley from Meunier rasped in from the right after a cross from Mertens during another Belgian counter attack.
It was game over in the 82nd minute after De Bruyne sliced through the tiring England defence to set Hazard free and the Chelsea man rounded Jones and beat Pickford at the near post.
Southgate’s final roll of the dice was to bring Dele Alli on for Loftus-Cheek but the game was gone as Roberto Martinez’ men secured a deserved third place finish.
BELGIUM vs ENGLAND MATCH STATS
Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Tielemans (Demele 78), Witsel, Chadli (Vermaelen 38), De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Lukaku (Mertens 60)
Booked: Witsel
Goals: Meunier 4, Eden Hazard 82
England: Pickford, Jones, Stones, Maguire, Dier, Trippier, Loftus-Cheek (Alli 84), Delph, Rose (Lingard 46), Kane, Sterling (Rashford 46)
Booked: Stones 52, Maguire 77