England manager Gareth Southgate admits the World Cup third-place play-off is a game that no team wants to play, but Saturday’s match against Belgium offers the chance to finish the tournament on a winning note. A gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Croatia after extra-time denied England a shot at a second World Cup triumph, instead setting up a consolation game against familiar foes Belgium. Roberto Martinez’s side, who were beaten 1-0 by France in the last four, topped Group G ahead of England after an Adnan Januzaj goal settled a low-key encounter in Kaliningrad. That game saw both coaches heavily rotate their teams, and a similar scenario is likely in Saint Petersburg, with several fringe players pushing for a start. “The honest thing is, it’s not a game any team wants to play in,” said Southgate, whose side have drawn praise for the way they have briefly united a country bitterly divided over Brexit. However, he insisted that will not alter England’s approach as they look to achieve their best finish since they won the competition in 1966. “We’ll want to give a performance of huge pride, there’s no question about that,” said Southgate. “Every time we wear the shirt of our national team we want to play with pride, we want to play well and we want to win.” Reserve goalkeepers Jack Butland and Nick Pope are the only two members of England’s 23-man squad yet to feature in Russia, as Southgate stuck with the same line-up throughout the knockout phase. ‘Important game’ For Belgium and their “golden generation”, many of the key players should return for the 2022 World Cup, even if Vincent Kompany and Jan Vertonghen will probably be gone by then. Martinez, who signed an extension until after Euro 2020 in May, can guide Belgium to the nation’s best result at the World Cup. They finished fourth in 1986. “We want to finish on a high and these players deserve to finish on a high,” said the Spaniard. “You need to try to see the opportunity of finishing third at the World Cup. That doesn’t happen too often, so we need to understand that this is an important game. “But I would accept it is very difficult when you had the ambition of getting to the final. It’s very difficult to prepare for the next game.” European teams have claimed third place at the past nine World Cups. The Netherlands beat Brazil 3-0 in 2014 after the hosts were embarrassed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals. England skipper Harry Kane is the tournament’s top scorer on six goals, while Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku trails by two in the race for the Golden Boot. With one more goal Kane would become the highest scorer at the competition since 2002, when Ronaldo struck eight times, including twice in the final, as Brazil clinched a record fifth title. The Tottenham forward would be just the second England player to scoop the award, after Gary Lineker was the top scorer in 1986.
Highlights Belgium vs England, FIFA World Cup 2018, 3rd place play-off at St Petersburg: Belgium finish third
Catch the live scores and updates of the third place play-off match between Belgium and England, which will be played at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Russia.
 "Highlights Belgium vs England, FIFA World Cup 2018, 3rd place play-off at St Petersburg: Belgium finish third")
That’s it from our coverage of the third/fourth place play-off. Belgium deservedly bag bronze. England finish fourth. Both teams will wonder what might have been but would go back home fairly happy with their campaign.
We will bring you all the updates from the final tomorrow. Keep following Firstpost for comprehensive coverage of the final
Belgium bag bronze!
Belgium players pose for a photo after collecting their medals. Not where they wanted to be but an honour to cherish nonetheless
Belgium players wait for their medals
Belgium players will be handed over their bronze medals. FIFA president Gianni Infantino makes his way to the ground to do the honours
Fine campaign for England
It's all over in Saint Petersburg.
— England (@England) July 14, 2018
The #ThreeLions finish fourth, completing their joint-best #WorldCup campaign outside our own country. Something to be proud of. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rbNOUQt5C7
Proud moment for Belgium
🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉🥉
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 14, 2018
We are #REDTOGETHER !
This is @Belgianfootball history !
We love you fans ! 😍
👊 @Fanclub1895
Proud to be #BELGIUM !#WorldCup#BELENG pic.twitter.com/9NoB7Xlzmn
FT: England 0-2 Belgium
Belgium finish third. Their best finish at a World Cup. England who were largely second best today have to make do with fourth place. Goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard sealed the deal for the Red Devils who end the World Cup on a high
90’ England 0-2 Belgium
Three minutes of stoppage time added on
84’ England 0-2 Belgium
Dele Alli replaces Ruben Loftus-Cheek for England
82’ England 0-2 Belgium
GOAL! Eden Hazard scores! A fine counter attack from Belgium. Kevin de Bruyne times the through ball to perfection as Hazard beats Phil Jones to noth Belgium’s second. That should be game over. Belgium all set to finish third
80’ England 0-1 Belgium
SAVE! Pickford gets a strong hand to Meunier’s volley before a breathtaking passing move from Belgium who are finding plenty of spaces on the counter
78’ England 0-1 Belgium
Moussa Dembele replaces Youri Tielemans
76’ England 0-1 Belgium
WIDE! A quick counter-attack from Belgium has Mertens in space. He cuts in on his right foot to curl one in but manages to fire his effort horribly wide.
74’ England 0-1 Belgium
CLOSE! Another chance for England. Tripper’s free-kick is met by Maguire who heads it wide
73’ England 0-1 Belgium
CHANCE! Eric Dier heads just wide after Jesse Lingard volleys a cross in the danger area. England have started to ask questions at the Belgian defence
70’ England 0-1 Belgium
Toby Aldeweireld with a heroic clearance. Eric Dier seemed destined to score after dinking an effort over Courtois, but the Spurs man at full stretch denies England an equaliser
67’ England 0-1 Belgium
Good cross from Loftus Cheek but no takers for England at the far post as the chance goes begging
60’ England 0-1 Belgium
Lukaku’s World Cup is over. No golden boot for him. He is replaced by Dries Mertens
56’ England 0-1 Belgium
A brilliant through ball from Belgium has Lukaku fails to get his first touch right AGAIN and the chance goes begging. I have lost count of the number of times I have typed this in this match
51’ England 0-1 Belgium
CLOSE! Jan Vertonghen makes a crucial clearance from a free-kick. England have been very threatening from set-pieces in this tournament
46’ England 0-1 Belgium
England get the second half underway. Can they make a comeback in the second half?
HT: England 0-1 Belgium
England have better numbers, but Belgium have the crucial statistic in their favour
HT: England 0-1 Belgium
Belgium deservedly go into the interval with their noses in front. There could have been more for Belgium had they been slightly more clinical. England need to up their game in the second half. They have had few moments but no sustained pressure
45+2’ England 0-1 Belgium
Maguire gives the ball away cheaply. Belgium counter quickly to send Lukaku in a one on one with John Stones. Stones does well to stay with the Belgian forward and block his shot
45’ England 0-1 Belgium
2 minutes of added time at the end of the first half. Belgium are on top as the half draws to a close
39’ England 0-1 Belgium
Thomas Vaermaelan replaces Nacer Chadli for Belgium
35’ England 0-1 Belgium
Nacer Chadli is down with an injury. Belgium might need to make a change
24’ England 0-1 Belgium
CHANCE! Harry Kane blasts over after Raheem Sterling cushions a long ball in his path.
19’ England 0-1 Belgium
Loftus Cheek with a brilliant run to bamboozle the Belgian defence, but Kompany is at the right place to block his cut back at the expense of a corner. Harry Maguire wins the header but can only fire it straight to Courtois
17’ England 0-1 Belgium
Belgium are on top here. A fluid passing move sees Kevin de Bruyne slide a through ball in to Lukaku inside the box whose first touch lets him down allowing Pickford to collect. Not the first time you heard this
15’ England 0-1 Belgium
Good move from England. Kieran Tripper’s cross is headed goalwards from Ruben Loftus-Cheek but it is straight at Thibaut Courtois who gobbles it comfortably
14’ England 0-1 Belgium
Brilliant from Belgium. Eden Hazard wriggles free of his marker to play Lukaku in space whose pass to Kevin de Bruyne is weak but still manages to reach the Manchester City man. De Bruyne’s effort on goal is somehow kept out by Pickford. Belgium carrying a lot of threat. England struggling to live with the Red Devils attack at the moment
A record to chase
10 - Thomas Meunier is the 10th different player to score for Belgium at the 2018 World Cup - the joint-most different scorers for a team at a single World Cup (also 10 for France in 1982 and Italy in 2006). Spread. #BELENG #BEL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ACnK9xvP14
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2018
8’ England 0-1 Belgium
England have made a passive start. Maybe the changes mean the Three Lions will need time to gel. Meanwhile Belgium are looking menacing on the counter attack. Lukaku’s hold-up play has been brilliant so far
4’ England 0-1 Belgium
GOAL! Thomas Meunier taps home from close range to put the Red Devils in front. Brilliant move from Belgium. Lukaku playing in Chadli with a fine through ball before the wing back made no mistake in putting it on a plate for Meunier
KICK OFF!
Belgium in their changed yellow strip kick the game off. The Red Devils are looking for their best ever finish at the World Cup. England looking to bring home some pride if not the World Cup
TEAMS
ICYMI
FORMATIONS // #BELENG // #WorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/MJKV09mZPG
Milestone for England!
100 - This will be England's 100th game at a major international tournament, with 69 of those coming at the World Cup finals (31 at the European Championships). Century. #BELENG #ENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ypacGG8OYn
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2018
Familiar foes!
2 - Belgium and England are the first teams to face twice at a World Cup tournament since Turkey played Brazil twice at the 2002 World Cup. Familiar. #BELENG #BEL #ENG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/vUQSVjJkxG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 14, 2018
TEAMS ARRIVING!
Belges et Anglais sont arrivés au stade !#BEL #ENG #BELENG #CM2018 pic.twitter.com/VfVw9qLA2E
— Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_fr) July 14, 2018
Friends reunited
Plenty of friends in both camps, but it won’t be all that friendly on the pitch
Friends reunited. 🤝#threelions pic.twitter.com/aJPevE96mb
— England (@England) July 14, 2018
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