England vs Belgium player ratings: Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne run the show in World Cup third-place play-off
England 2-0 Belgium: Man-for-man marking from the World Cup third-place play-off
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Your support makes all the difference.England suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Belgium to miss out on their best finish at the World Cup 2018 since 1966, condemning them to a fourth-place finish in Russia.
An early goal from Thomas Meunier on his return to the side from suspension meant that Gareth Southgate’s side were always chasing the match, and despite a much-improved second-half display when they went in search of the goal they needed, Belgium hit them on the counter with Eden Hazard sealing the victory.
Having both been eliminated in the semi-finals, the much-maligned third-place play-off saw one last chance for the two sides to take centre stage before Sunday’s World Cup final takes the headlines.
Even so, there was clearly a greater determination among the Belgian side as they named their strongest line-up possible and came flying out of the blocks with the early goal as Meunier tapped home Nacer Chadli’s cross.
England eventually got themselves into the game, but it took a double-half-time substitution as Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose were replaced by Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
That gave them a spark and twice Eric Dier went close to equalising, only for Toby Alderweireld to clear off the line and the Tottenham midfielder heading wide.
As England pressed forward, Belgium struck again as Hazard sold goalkeeper Jordan Pickford the wrong way to strike home after springing the offside trap, securing the win that gives Belgium their best ever World Cup finish.
Click on the gallery above to find out how the players got on.
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