Belgium 2 England 0: Brave Three Lions finish World Cup campaign with battling defeat against clinical, counter-attacking Red Devils
England dominated much of the match but an early Thomas Meunier strike and late Eden Hazard goal proved too much
GARETH SOUTHGATE and his squad are still going home as World Cup stars but they will not be landing in Birmingham tomorrow with a medal.
Goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard were enough to ensure the Belgian won the the third-place play-off and they are heading to Brussels for an open-top bus tour.
For England, there will be no grand welcome but despite this largely irrelevant loss, the perception of the national football team has improved massively.
Harry Kane was forced to feed of scraps but still looks set to win the Golden Boot, particularly as rival Romelu Lukaku was subbed on the hour.
There was a second half spell when England looked likely to equalise but Hazard’s goal with eight minutes remaining sealed matters.
Stung by criticism following the manner of their 1-0 defeat to France, Belgium named a strong team and were clearly up for it while Southgate made five changes.
Belgium tore Southgate’s team to shreds in only the fourth minute. It was too easy. Lukaku found Nacer Chadli and he crossed for Meunier who got ahead of Danny Rose to score.
Pickford did well to save a deflected effort from Kevin De Bruyne while Belgium caused a few other nervous moments in the Three Lions defence with John Stones delivering some cracking blocks.
England started to dominate possession and their first real chance came midway inside the first half but Kane scuffed his effort wide.
Belgium reshuffled when Thomas Vermaelen replaced Chadli and at half-time, Jesse Lingard replaced Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling made way for Marcus Rashford, whose name was greeted with a major cheer from all corners of the ground.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LIVE All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup
MOST READ IN WORLD CUP
Lukaku had the first half-chance of the second half but Pickford raced off his line and England could have opened the scoring through Dier.
The Tottenham star played a decent one two with Rashford and he lifted the ball over Thibaut Courtois but Alderweireld made a stunning goal-line clearance.
With England now causing more problems, Dier and Harry Maguire both went close with headers.
On the break, Belgium could have made it 2-0 but Pickford kept out a drive from Meunier with an outstanding save.
Yet with England continuing to push forward, De Bruyne released Hazard who got the wrong side of Phil Jones and he buried the ball past Pickford.
England will have a final night in Repino today before heading back.
