Belgium vs England - Who will win the third-place play-off for the 2018 World Cup?

[Abdullah719]

Replay of the group stage match which Belgium won 1-0.

Who will get the moral victory?

Belgium should triumph again IMO.

 

[MMHS]

3rd-4th play-off often becomes high scoring, as stakes are low and both teams are down in spirit, waiting for their flight back home. I can recall, most teams actually book flight in Saturday night and watch the Final back home

I expect a royal hammering of England from a heart broken Belgium side, who might pick England to dish out some frustration. Several Belgium players are going to play their last world cup, probably last International - and they must have realized, that 1-0 cost them a WC Final at least; should have drawn the game and finish 2nd.

4-1 Belgium for me; at least 2 goals clear margin. That FTB Lukaku to score a brace, if not a hat-trick.

 

[hadi123]

Obviously would like England to win, voted for Belgium but the reality is I don't care about this match. Waste of time.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Belgium I think. They have a couple of really inventive players such as Hazard and de Bruyn that England lacks, and without the pressure of winning I would think they would shine.

 

[nextover666666]

despite being a third place match, i feel both teams will put up a good fight, but i think Belgium will come on top

 

[PetroDollars]

funny match this one because both teams ended there group stage playing a meaningless match, now they will end there WC in the same way.

 

[Hasan123]

Belgium should win this.

 

[PakLFC]

Belgium. I feel England will be more upset not making the final.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Belgium will win.

 

[MMHS]

The group game between Belgium & England hardly tells the story. Belg back-ups beat England back-ups in a close game; but that hardly exposes the gap between two sides.

That day ENG started with -
Pickford, Jones, Stones, Cahill, TAA, Cheek, Dier, Delph, Rose, Rashford & Verdy

While Belgium started with -
Courtois, Vermalen, Boyata, Dendonker, Dembele, Fellaini, Throgan Hazard, Chadli, Telemens, Batsuayi, Januzaj

Difference is, this England team doesn't have that outstanding individual (s), that Belgium has - Southgate got the best out of his average squad playing collectively good soccer; but you replace any player in that XI including Kane, it hardly makes better. Does it really make much difference, if I replace Jones & Cahill with Walker & Maguire? Or Tripper, Henderson, Young, Ali, Sterling, Kane for the starters?.

Compared to that, Belgium has few individuals, who are far better in skill - their ceiling is much higher. Replace Belgium starters (where applicable) with Kompany, Alderwield, Vetronghen, Munier, Hazard (Eden), KDB, Carrassco, Witsel, Mertens & Lukaku .........

These days, International soccer is too close - 2-0 actually is a domination, 3-0 is rout; game has moved from the fantasy days where you can dream of putting ball to Pele's foot and he'll dribble past 12 players to score ........teams (even Asians) are far more tactical, compact and organized - Korea kept desperate Germany at bay for 90 minutes at then hit back on break; therefore for such a low stake game, any prediction is risky. But, in a 4231 formation, you ask me, 2 England players will start for my combined team - Kiren Tripper, that too because he scored a goal, on sure soccer merit, he doesn't come ahead of Munier at RB, and Kane because he is going to win the softest Golden Boot ever (& Lukaku had a poor game in SF)

1 Courtois
4 Tripper, Kompany, Alderweild, Vetrongen
2 Witsel, Chadli
3 Mertens, KDB, Hazard
1 Kane

It's not even a remote contest - but it's the most useless game of a WC, so anything can happen on the day.

 

[Rayyman]

5-2 Belgium

 

[Rayyman]

5-2 Belgium

Nvm 2-0 Belgium