World Cup Review: Third Place Match; Belgium best England

Belgium and England met in the match to determine who would finish third, and take home a bronze medal, and who would finish fourth and go home with no medal!

Third Place Match:

This game has traditionally been seen as a consolation game for the nations failing to make the final, however there is some intrigue. Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku are first and second respectively in the golden boot (highest scorer at the World Cup) race. While the match means close to nothing for both nations, it was set up as the determining factor in that golden boot race!

These two are leading the race for the adidas Golden Boot Award! #BELENG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/hokyEQaH3e

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018

Belgium: 2 England 0

In the match of Semi Final losers, Belgium took on England. This was the second time these two nations met this World Cup as they were both in group G. They played what turned out to be a meaningless final game on the group stage, where both sides rested starters. Belgium took that game 1-0. This game looked eerily similar.

England came out in this match looking tired and like they didn’t want to be playing in this match. In the fourth minute Thomas Meunier put Belgium up. A great counter attack set up the opening goal. Romelu Lukaku found a streaking Nacer Chadli down the left-wing. He picked up his head and saw Meunier running into the box. The ball was sent in and finished first time! Belgium were on the front foot.England tried to counter that by pushing numbers forward, but they lacked the clinical finishing that they needed.

In the second half England came out firing. They were on the front foot, but failed to find the equalizer. As the match progressed England pushed more and more numbers forward to try to find the tie. This set up Belgium to do what they love to do counter. In the 82 minute Belgium doubled their lead through Eden Hazard. A break was started by Kevin De Bruyne who found Hazard on his left. Hazard pushed the ball past the last English defender and made Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford rush him. Hazard slotted the ball past Pickford essentially ending the game!

After the second goal, both sides sat back and let the match run its course. A nice game between two great teams at this World Cup! Belgium take home third place at Russia 2018!

Congrats, @BelRedDevils! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2NWLLWj064

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018

Belgium’s “golden generation” of players is close to its end, and they may not all be back for Qatar 2022. Could this have been Belgium’s last chance to make it to a final, and will finishing third make them feel any sense of joy. If anyone had said before the start of this tournament that England would finish fourth, then they would have seemed delusional. While England missed out on a medal, they were tied for the second youngest squad at this World Cup (having the same average age as France