England go head-to-head with Belgium on Thursday to decide who tops Group G with both teams already qualified.
Press Association Sport’s Carl Markham takes a closer look at one of the pre-tournament favourites to win the World Cup.
How did they get to Russia?
CONGRATULATIONS! ?????Belgium become the second European team, after hosts ??Russia, to secure their place at next year’s #WorldCup! pic.twitter.com/b14kFEBPER
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) September 3, 2017
Belgium became the first European nation to qualify for the World Cup after the hosts, booking their spot in September last year. The Red Devils ran away with their group, finishing nine points ahead of second-placed Greece having won nine and drawn one of their 10 matches. They scored 43 goals – more than the combined total of four of their group opponents Greece, Estonia, Cyprus and Gibraltar – and conceded just six. Romelu Lukaku contributed 11 and Eden Hazard six.
Who is the coach?
What can we expect from them?
What is their recent form?
?? #REDTOGETHER #WorldCup #BELTUN? #ENGBEL pic.twitter.com/ky7f8egPS1
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) June 24, 2018
Impressive to say the least. At this tournament already they have swept aside Panama and Tunisia with very little fuss. They have not lost since September 1, 2016 – Martinez’s first game in charge – and arrived in Russia on the back of a tide of goals having failed to score more than once on just two occasions, one of which was a goalless draw against European champions Portugal earlier this month.
Who is the player to watch?
Amazing support today! Glad for 3 more points! Thank you everyone in Moscow!! #REDTOGETHER #family
?? Supporters au top comme toujours! Super content des 3 points! Merci à tous et merci Moscou! ??#famille pic.twitter.com/A4s8NkhQuR
— Eden hazard (@hazardeden10) June 23, 2018
Take your pick, you are spoiled for choice. Lukaku has claimed the headlines after four goals in his first two World Cup matches but Belgium are far more nuanced than relying on the big centre-forward. Hazard is the man they look for to make things happen in the final third and he already has two goals. England’s defenders will have seen enough of him in the Premier League to know what he is capable of but stopping him on this stage may be something different.
