FIFA World Cup 2018 third-place match: Belgium beat England 2-0 - As it happened

Thomas Meunier’s goal in the fourth minute put Belgium ahead early before Eden Hazard put an end to the English hopes with a sublime finish in the 82nd minute.

Pic courtesy: IANS

Belgium dominated England throughout the match to seal the third place, their best ever finish at World Cup. Thomas Meunier’s goal in the fourth minute put Belgium ahead early in the match before Eden Hazard put an end to the English hopes with a sublime finish in the 82nd minute. England never looked like coming back into the match despite creating multiple chances but poor finishing in the final-third resulted in England finishing on the fourth spot, just like in 1990. Nevertheless, both the teams will go home after a remarkable World Cup and would look to build their promising young team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Here are the match highlights from St. Petersburg:

Belgium beat England 2-0!

#BEL secure their best-ever position in a #WorldCup with today's victory  pic.twitter.com/RG7tOPWlO2 — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018

Full-time!!

3 minutes of Stoppage time!!

85 minute: Another threatening attack by Belgium but Stones makes a timely clearance. England are running out of time here. 

Belgium 2-0 England!! 

82 minute: GOAL!!! Eden Hazard picks up a pass from De Bruyne and nets an easy goal. Belgium 2-0 England 

79 minute: Fantastic one-touch play by Belgium in the midfield, splitting the English defence but Thomas Meunier's volley is saved by goalkeeper Pickford. That was close. 

78 minute: Yellow card! England's Harry Maguire gets booked for a challenge. 

76 minute: Belgium's Mertens picks up a pass in the box and tries to bend the ball towards the goal but hits it wide. 

73 minute:  England are finally starting to create chances as Lingard chips the ball in the middle but Dier heads it wide. 

70 minute: SAVED!!! Belgium's Toby Alderweireld makes a stunning save to deny Eric Dier to equalise. What a save. 

68 minute: Loftus-Cheek makes a brilliant cross from the right corner but fails to find a teammate at close-range. England are pressing harder but need to finish well in the final-third. 

60 minute: Substitution for Belgium. Mertens replaces Lukaku. 

56 minute: Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne splits the English wall with this through ball as Lukaku goes on-side but the latter fails to capitalise as Pickford charges in to collect the ball comfortably. 

54 minute: MISS!!  Lingard fires a volley towards Harry Kane at close range but the latter failed to make contact. That was close.  

52 minute: Yellow card! England's John Stones gets booked for a foul on Eden Hazard. Free-kick to Belgium. 

50 minute: Free-kick to England. Kieran Trippier curls the ball in the middle but Belgian defender clears the ball for a corner to England. 

47 minute: England's Ruben Loftus-Cheek makes a solo run into the Belgium box but the defenders cramp him for room. 

Second-half is underway!

Belgium 1-0 England!!

Half-time!!

2 minutes of Stoppage time!

39 minute: Substitution for Belgium. T. Vermaelen replaces the injured N. Chadli. 

36 minute: Belgium's Nacer Chadli goes down after a cramp. The medical team attend to him. 

34 minute: Belgium's Eden Hazard sprints into the England box but his shot gets blocked by a defender. Corner for Belgium. 

24 minute: MISS!! England's Kane attempts a shot at goal but hits it wide. Kane could have scored his 7th goal there. 

19 minute: Corner for England. Harry Maguire goes unmarked but heads the ball straight to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

That goal from @ThomMills means that he has become the TENTH #BEL player to score at this #WorldCup for @BelRedDevils! #BELENG pic.twitter.com/VaRFcuG5Rg — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018

14 minute:  England's Kieran Trippier whips the ball to find Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the middle, but the latter heads it directly into the hands of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. 

12 minute: Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne picks up a pass from Lukaku but goalkeeper Pickford saves it. The English defence have looked bleak against the Belgian strikers. 

7 minute: Belgium are up and attacking early forcing England to defend deep. 

Belgium 1-0 England!!

4 minute: GOAL!!  Thomas Meunier slides  Nacer Chadli's cross into the net. Belgium take an early lead. 

Kick-off!

FORMATIONS // #BELENG // #WorldCup

pic.twitter.com/MJKV09mZPG — FIFA World Cup  (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2018

Lineups

Belgium XI: Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany; Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Nacer Chadli; Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard; Romelu Lukaku.

England XI: Jordan Pickford; Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire; Eric Dier; Kieran Trippier, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph, Danny Rose; Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.

Both teams are in their second third-place match, Belgium having lost to France in 1986 and England to Italy four years later. After disappointing defeats against France and Croatia, both side will look to end their campaigns on a winning note. 

Earlier, Belgium faced England in their final group stage, edging past the English side 1-0 to top Group G. Belgium’s defence will try and cramp England’s Harry Kane, who would love to add to his tally of six goals. 

After disappointing defeats against France and Croatia, both teams will look to end their campaigns on a winning note. 

Squads 

Belgium: 

Goalkeepers- Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet.

Defenders - Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Leander Dendoncker, Vincent Kompany, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen.

Midfielders - Yannick Carrasco, Nacer Chadli, Kevin De Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel.

Forwards - Michy Batshuayi, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens.

England: 

Goalkeepers - Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope.

Defenders- Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Danny Rose, Ashley Young, John Stones, Harry Maguire. 

Midfielders- Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli. 

Forwards- Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jamie Vardy, Raheem Sterling, Danny Welbeck.