England advance as group runners-up after Adnan Januzaj seals Belgium victory

England have real chances against Colombia and either of Swiss/Swedes. I think this is probably the better option for England.

Belgium are better than England are at football. Traditionally at tournaments, England do well against inferior teams and then lose against the first superior side they play, so this has run to form.

Not sure Colombia or Swiss/Swedes are as good as Belgium. Think England start about 50-50 against Colombia if James fit, favourites if not. Switzerland are ranked more highly by Fifa but I think England can beat them. England would be favourite against Sweden.  

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What a great chance. We should be more positive than ever. We have a chance to play Colombia and then Switzerland or Sweden to get in a World Cup semi-final.

Gary points out recent times England have got to knockout stages: Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, Germany etc.

A pretty even game. They had better controlled possession. They had the better first half chances. We had better in second half.

We had half an eye on the knockout.

Marcus had a great chance. He and Jamie kept working. Didn’t happen for us tonight.

We want to win football matches, we are not happy to come here having been beaten.

The knockout game is the biggest game for a decade, 

The players who played tonight have given everything, we created things to get something out of theg ame.

Momentum shifts in games, we kept pressing right until the end. Supporters brilliant. They understand what the most important thing is.

And that’s your lot. Southgate looks pensive rather than distressed, which feels about right. Report and reaction coming up.

England clinging onto the ropes here. Here’s Fellaini again, barreling through opponents like Big Sol against Argentina, or like Big Sol in the Playboy Club too I shouldn’t wonder. He lets rip. Side netting.

Gorgeous skill from Batshuayi on the byline, cuts it back. Not gorgeous skill from Fellaini, the ball pinging off him. But there is more than one way to butter a waffle, and the big feller does what he does best: shoving and pushing and powering through bodies like a rampaging lock forward. Nearly bundles it in.

Mertens is in the action right away, crushes a shot at goal. It is at a saveable height, Pickford decides to punch it… right back into the danger area. Luckily Fellaini is the nearest Belgo and he cannot get his body in the right position to shoot. England somehow get it clear. Think Pickford will be a very relieved Washingtonian.

Broadway Danny Rose draws yet another foul. Takes a quick freekick and Courtois… what is he doing?!!… he’s come for this but he’s never getting there. Welbeck ghosts in at the near post and fires…. well wide.

Lovely shift from RLC as he beats his man… but his cross is a turkey. Drifts way out.

Januzaj comes off, Mertens is the man who comes on.

Really nice corner from Rashford, Courtois has to punch. It’s Dat Guy Welbz on the edge of the box, he shifts the ball and hits a shot. Nicely struck. Deflected behind (by Big Marouane, I think).

The next corner is easy for Courtois. He’s not looked at his commanding best, by the way. None of the top keepers have impressed so far this tournament.

Good battling from Vardy et al. JV has given a full pint this evening. I actually disagree with Luke Edwards, just below, I think most or all of England’s ones have tried hard.

Rashford given a chance from a DFK. Curls it over. Some way over.

Ah, I feel the warm breath of backlash.

Okay so any pretensions about England wanting to win this game go out the window – Welbeck not Kane?! Southgate gambling dangerously that Colombia are worse than Iceland

— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) June 28, 2018

Vowed to stay off Twitter during England games but this is dreadful. Belgium are almost embarrassed to be winning. England going through the motions but have looked very ordinary all game. Both countries will feel very silly if they lose their next match.

— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 28, 2018

Alexander-Arnold has run his race. Danny Welbeck is coming on. If anyone can sort this out, it’s… well, probably not Welbz, But we’ll see! Doesn’t really matter if he does or not, in fairness. Maybe a puncturing of expectation is what this England side needs?

Vowed to stay off Twitter during England games but this is dreadful. Belgium are almost embarrassed to be winning. England going through the motions but have looked very ordinary all game. Both countries will feel very silly if they lose their next match.

— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) June 28, 2018

Nice welcome from the guys @playboyclubLDN, great atmosphere and event for an important match! Come on England! #Worldcup #playboyclubldn pic.twitter.com/QxkeskLGMh

— Sol Campbell (@SolManOfficial) June 28, 2018

Another decent set piece. Trent AA sends it in, Harry M peels away at the back post, sends the looping header back across… but Big Courtois gathers that like a person reaching something off a shelf for their much shorter spouse. Patient, vaguely paternalistic. 

Lucky them https://t.co/MVZFrpeOxJ

— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) June 28, 2018

Marouane Fellaini has given Eric Dier a bit of a schooling here. Outplayed him and out-muscled him. Dier barges him. Probably should have been booked.

Belgium are making one, though. Vermaelen is being replaced by that majestic, lovely man Vincent Kompany.

How badly does Gareth Southgate-Badger want to get something out of this? I would suggest ‘not very badly’. Will he make changes? Not sure.

Decent spell from England. Delph hits a bobbler from outside the box. Dendoncker gets in the way and that deflection could have gone anywhere.

The most England thing that could ever happen:

— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) June 28, 2018

RLC has an effort from the resulting corner but it’s rubbs.

Great chance for England. Nice play, their best moment of the match. Nice ball down the middle, lay off around the corner from Vardy, and Rashford has a chance to run at the defence. Opens up his body, curls it…. oooooh wide. Should have scored that. Oh no wait, Courtois got a little touch. It was going wide anyway, I think.

Loftus-Cheek progresses down the right. Cross fails to find a man. Trent AA frees Jones down the wing. He heaves the ball out.

Delay as Vermaelen gets the back of Jamie Vardy’s little thruppeny bit head in his face. Ouch.

Hilariously, after the goal, Batshuayi caught the ball and kicked it out of his hand into the net… only it hit the post, rebounded, and smacked him in the face.

Januzaj again in acres down the right. This is more like it: now England fans have got something to be furious about! Where’s the marking? Fortunately Januzaj cannot deliver this time.

Nice run from RLC, hauled to the ground by Dembele. Freekick. Central.

No, he has just whacked that into the wall. I think the plan was for Dier to clear a path.

England are giving Tielemans far too much space on the edge of the area. He’s got all the time in the world. He slips it to Januzaj who, also, is allowed the run of the place. He cuts inside. He curls a left foot shot. It’s a beautiful strike. Goal Belgium!

It was a really sweet strike.

Delph is caught in possession, Tielemans has a real opportunity but gives it away cheaply. It’s not great stuff.

Gorgeous trick from Rashford, beating his man, but now he pushes Dendoncker.

Vardy, good situation awareness as ever, is lightning quick to the second ball. Frees Rashford, who tries to curl it flamboyantly.

Second verse, same as the first… 

But Harry Maguire IS coming on. Stones the man who makes way. Belgium kick off.

“Harry Kane might as well go back to the hotel, there is no way he is coming on.”

“Belgium don’t want to win this game.”

#ENG set to play #JPN in the next round with #BEL on course to finish second in the group for their inferior fair play record https://t.co/8wOqx1QUhf pic.twitter.com/gPoeimQetL

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 28, 2018

England will win the group, because they have just two yellow cards to Belgium’s five. England would then play Japan.

Why on earth are Belgium settling for playing Colombia rather than wanting to win and face Japan? #WorldCup #BEL #BELENG

— Andrew Downie (@adowniebrazil) June 28, 2018

Hallo Alan,

What do you mean ‘no injury time’?

It’s been one long injury for the eyeballs so far.

Being of the Irish tendency you’ll forgive my hope that Chocolate-Meisters win.

Cheers,

Shane O’Leary

“Momentum has been lost,” says Gary Neville, by which he means the changing of so many personnel. 

“Rashford and Danny Rose have been quite impressive,” says Ian Wright.

Ryan Giggs: “England are missing that link between midfield and attack. Belgium look more dangerous.”

Lee Dixon: “We are  a little bit open in midfield and are leaving too much space. A lackadaisical attitude.”

No injury time at all. That’s the end of the first 45.

In the midst of this pig of a game, there is one tiny sliver of fun to be had… enjoying the name of Dendoncker. Dendoncker. Leander Dendoncker! pic.twitter.com/DcxglqXwHP

— Danny Kelly (@dannykellywords) June 28, 2018

That is a nice ball form R L-C, looking for Delph, good covering header from Boyata. Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose delivery has been so-so, cannot do much with the corner.

Opens up for England and suddenly it looks like Loftus-Cheek has a chance to strike. But he cannot bring it under control.

People talking about this as a farce, surely doesn’t apply to England? They clearly are trying, just a bit (understandably) disjointed.

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) June 28, 2018

I agree. Honest effort from the England B side.

 A quiet few minutes there. Both sides trying a few longer passes, to no effect.

Very disappointing that a game that should’ve been one of the games of this #WorldCup has both sides fielding weakened sides.#ENGBEL @ITVSport

— Daniel Ruiz Tizon (@1607WestEgg) June 28, 2018

I’m sure it’s a nice experience for the players involved etc, but come on. It’s like Argentina v Nigeria or Germany v South Korea was a different sport.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) June 28, 2018

Fellaini an important figure, he and Batshuayi linking up nicely in the area. They tee up T Hazard, who woollies the shot a mile over. If only he had a brother.

England’s B team are at least trying to play like the A team. They’re just doing it less well. Belgium’s B team are going sideways and backwards with no intent.

— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 28, 2018

Belgium’s turn for a corner. Boyata I think it is who flicks a header on dangerously.

England hit on the break. Ball to Vardy is juuuust a bit too floaty though and the men from the low countries can reset.

Batshuayi aside (he clearly didn’t get the memo), Belgium are so desperate not to win this that I almost want to see England boot the ball in their own net. And with Phil Jones on the pitch it could happen.

— Matthew Stanger (@MatthewStanger) June 28, 2018

Corner. Trent Alexander-Arnold cannot do much with it. But England get another one. This is a better ball! Loftus-Cheek with a reasonable header. Wide.

Worth noting that the Belgian fans cheered that yellow, and I don’t think it is because they hate Danny Rose.

Rose is too quick for another Belgian, this time Dendoncker. He has also fouled Danny, and is also getting a yellow. Belgium pretty much ensuring England will be top if this is a draw.

Belgium having the better of this, as far as it goes.

#ENG will top Group G as it stands because #BEL have picked up four yellow cards to England’s two https://t.co/8wOqx1QUhf pic.twitter.com/lnW2NUETbA

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 28, 2018

Trent Alexander-Arnold down the right and tries a cross that is badly mis-hit… nearly lobs the keeper. 

Batshuayi with a nice run, and a vital tackle from  John Stones to get in the way as he pulls the trigger.

From the resulting corner, it is controlled by Fellaini and lashed at goal… and England clear it off the line again! Alexander-Arnold the man who can. It rebounds to Adnan Jan and he is harangued off the ball.

Talking of teams who are a threat at set plays…

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph, Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold sounds like the line-up of some Mumford-esque trustafarian band #ENGBEL #WorldCup

— Michael Hogan (@michaelhogan) June 28, 2018

England having more of the ball but Belgium have had the better chances so far@England 0⃣-0⃣ @BelRedDevils #ENG #BEL #ThreeLions #ENGBEL pic.twitter.com/xnU3acPMY4

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 28, 2018

Not much of a game so far. Chadli thumps the ball through, not even sure if that was a shot or a pass. Affable, low key affair, both teams standing off one another.

Is it just me or has the Charity Shield come round earlier than usual this summer?

— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) June 28, 2018

Broadway Danny Rose pushes the ball past Tielemans and looks to beat him… Chopped down! Yellow card.

Second tackle of any note/spice when Fellaini catches Loftus-Cheek.

First tackle of any note/spice when Rashford catches Dembele.

Trent Alexander-Arnold gallops down the right, I thought he might be offside but no matter. A cross, Vardy flicks a head at it, wide. The cross was a bit to behind Vardy to be threatening.

England’s set piece taking is really impressive. Four or five runners here, causing havoc. Cahill nearly nods it in at the back post, but the ref reckons there was some pushing. I think England can score against anyone in the tournament if they get enough corners.

England, who have been as good as anybody at set pieces, have a corner. Cleared behind. Another one.

Panic stations! England make a mess of clearing a cross, Cahill swipes at thin air and for a second it looked like Batshuayi had bundled it over the line after Big Marouane nodded it on, bless him. England have to clear from their own line!

It’s been a lively start at both ends, with @GaryJCahill clearing off the line and then going close with a header himself.#ThreeLions fans? pic.twitter.com/qgwauy2yRa

— England (@England) June 28, 2018

Tielemans is given all the time and space he wants on the edge of the box, and he unloads with a vicious shot. Pickford saves, but not entirely convincingly.

Nice dummy from Rashford to spin away from the ball. He’s had a couple of chances to stretch his legs, and shows good wheels here, but England are offside.

Belgian defensive error! Vardy nips in. He gets to the byline and crosses. Courtois elects to save with… his feet. Nearly serves it up to Delph on the edge of the box. Belgium shut it down. 

England kick off. Playing it around at the back. Back to the keeper. Up to Vardy, who finds Rashford. Raking ball down the channel but overhit.

England: Pickford, Jones, Stones, Cahill, Alexander-Arnold,  Loftus-Cheek, Dier, Delph, Rose, Rashford, Vardy. Subs: Butland,  Walker, Maguire, Lingard, Henderson, Kane, Sterling, Trippier,  Welbeck, Young, Alli, Pope. 

Belgium: Courtois, Dendoncker, Boyata, Vermaelen, Chadli,  Fellaini, Dembele, Thorgan Hazard, Januzaj, Batshuayi,  Tielemans. Subs: Mignolet, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen,  Witsel, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Carrasco, Mertens,  Meunier, Casteels.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Nine of their XI have played in England.

“A celebration game.”

group stage game: 17. Beating the 14 for Spain and Saudi Arabia in 2006.

Sung with commitment if not actual gusto by the chaps. Ooh, Dier is keen.

“For England fans, a rare luxury, having to play a World Cup match without major stress. Relax and enjoy. Hopefully the players can do the same. Ask your mum and dad what it is usually like: it is not like this.”

Panama vs Tunisia, World Cup 2018: live score and latest updates

for the avoidance of doubt, is Hazard the Less: Thorgan. Brother Eden is on the bench.

England: Pickford, Jones, Stones, Cahill, Alexander-Arnold,  Loftus-Cheek, Dier, Delph, Rose, Rashford, Vardy. Subs: Butland,  Walker, Maguire, Lingard, Henderson, Kane, Sterling, Trippier,  Welbeck, Young, Alli, Pope. 

Belgium: Courtois, Dendoncker, Boyata, Vermaelen, Chadli,  Fellaini, Dembele, Thorgan Hazard, Januzaj, Batshuayi,  Tielemans. Subs: Mignolet, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen,  Witsel, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Carrasco, Mertens,  Meunier, Casteels.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Can England do it?