England vs Belgium team news: Five changes as Phil Jones, Eric Dier and Ruben Loftus-Cheek start World Cup third-place play-off
Roberto Martinez resists making widespread changes as he recalls Thomas Meunier and Youri Tielemans for Belgium in the shootout for third place
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Your support makes all the difference.Gareth Southgate has made five changes to his England side that will take on Belgium in a bid to secure their best finish at a World Cup since 1966, with an entirely new midfield brought in and both Phil Jones and Danny Rose handed starts.
Following the disappointing 2-1 extra-time defeat by Croatia in Wednesday’s semi-final, England face one last match before they depart Russia to return home in the form of the dreaded third-place play-off.
The do at least have the chance to gain revenge on Belgium following the 1-0 defeat they suffered in the final round of group stage fixtures, although Southgate also fielded a weakened team on that occasion as they had already secured their passage through to the last-16.
Despite being carried off the pitch in the semi-final loss, Kieran Trippier is fit enough to start the match, although his Tottenham teammate Kyle Walker is replaced by Jones to hand the Manchester United centre-back his second start of the campaign.
Danny Rose is brought in on the left as Ashley Young misses out, while the midfield is rotated with Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Ruben Loftus-Cheek all starting in the same triangle that featured against the Red Devils earlier in the tournament.
Harry Kane leads the side in attack as he looks to claim the Golden Boot, with his six goals currently two clear of his closest rival in Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, while Raheem Sterling is also retained in the starting line-up.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has resisted making such widespread changes, though he has brought in two new faces as Thomas Meunier is recalled from suspension to replace Mousa Dembele and Youri Tielemans starts ahead of Marouane Fellaini.
Teams
England: Pickford; Jones, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Dier, Delph, Rose; Loftus-Cheek; Sterling, Kane.
Belgium: Courtois; Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Meunier, Witsel, Tielemans, Chadli; De Bruyne, Hazard; Lukaku.
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