It is often said that the third place play-off, in which Belgium will play England on Saturday (Jul 14), is the game that nobody in the football World Cup wants to play. If you are playing in it you have lost the semifinal and fallen at the last hurdle, which in many ways is far more disappointing than losing the final itself.
Nevertheless, the Belgians and the English have their duty to fulfill and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez was positive about the game in his post-match press conference after losing 1-0 to France on Tuesday. Martinez said the game offered the chance for
his side to secure their highest ever finish in the World Cup. If Belgium win they would better their fourth place finish in 1986, when Belgium lost a semifinal to Argentina.
The two sides have already played each other in Russia with Belgium winning the final Group G game 1-0 against England in a decaffeinated affair after both sides had already secured their passage into the last 16.
Saturday will probably see something similar as both Martinez and Gareth Southgate look to give another chance to those who have not played much in this World Cup.
Southgate has few options other than to make sweeping changes even if he wanted to field his strongest 11.
England played Croatia on Wednesday, 24 hours later than Belgium’s game against France. The game went to extra-time, leaving some of the England players exhausted physically and mentally and clearly needing more than just two days to recover.
Kieran Trippier suffered a late injury, meaning Trent Alexander-Arnold will play at right back, while Danny Rose will fill in for Ashley Young on the left.
The only players who may continue for England are Jordan Pickford in goal, although Jack Butland could get the chance to start. Harry Kane’s chance of winning the ‘Golden Boot’ could see him allowed to start in attack.
Belgium, for all of Martinez’s ambitions of finishing third, will also make big changes. Expect to see forwards, Michy Batshuayi and Adnan Januzaj to start along with Yannick Carrasco, Thomas Vermaelen and Thomas Meunier, who is available again after his suspension.
With little more than pride at stake, these matches tend to see open attacking football and after a long month in Russia one thing is certain: nobody will want to see extra time.
