ENGLAND VS BELGIUM – WORLD CUP MATCH REVIEW

ENGLAND VS BELGIUM

Right from the point when the teams were named in each group, this match has been highly anticipated by football lovers. This fixture between the Three lions and the Reds will be a decider to who tops group H. With both teams on same points many punters didn’t predict this closeness at the top.
Both these teams have six points from two games played, but have similar goals score and goals conceded (eight and three). Interestingly this leaves the fair play rule as only option to decide who finishes first.

England are in first position going into the game as they have fewer yellow cards. Be that as it may, it is also questionable if any of these teams would want to finish top. With a team like Germany failing to qualify, the knockout stage is shaping up to be very difficult especially for the top teams. Both England and Belgium would not want to play consciously to lose but it is likely that both teams would heavily rotate their squads.
Belgium’s manager has already hinted that he would rotate his squad, stating that Lukaku, Hazard and Dries Mertens all have knocks. England could also be fielding the likes of Phil Jones, Dier, and Marcus Rashford. They have also hinted that they would also be rotating their squad as Marcus Rashford, Phil Jones and Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold all expected to start.

The attacking line up has been really productive but it is also fair to state that they haven’t really played a big side. England were particularly wasteful against Tunisia scoring just two goals while Belgium found the back of the net five times.

EXPECTATION

Meanwhile against Panama England were already 5-0 ahead in the first half compared to Belgium who were held to a goalless draw. Considering that England failed to keep a clean sheet while Belgium conceded two goals, it should be a goal fest.
With both teams not wanting to lose and putting recent goal scoring form into consideration, the over 2.5 goals market should be a great pick.
Harry Kane would be looking to add to their goal tallies as he starts in this game. The Tottenham man who is already on five goals from his first two matches at Russia 2018. And with 13 goals in 9 matches which he has started, he should really fancy his chances of getting the golden boot.

HEAD TO HEAD

The two sides have met six times, two of which were at the world cup. In 1954 were it ending in a draw and in 1990 when England won 1-0 in extra time. England have never beat Belgium in ordinary time, they won on penalties in 1998 during a friendly game.

PREDICTED LINEUP

ENGLAND

Pickford, Walker, Stones, Cahill, Alexander-Arnold, Rose, Dier, Alli, Lingard, Rashford, Kane.

BELGIUM

Courtois, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Boyata, Meunier, Carrasco, Fellaini, De Bruyne, T. Hazard, Tielemans, Batshuayi

PICK

Both teams to score

Odd: 1.90