England vs Belgium LIVE World Cup 2018: England second in Group G - latest reaction and analysis from Kaliningrad
Follow all the reaction from the final game in Group G in Kaliningrad
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Your support makes all the difference.The battle for the top of Group G looks like it will be a close one. Both England and Belgium have already qualified for the round of 16 with decisive victories over both Panama and Tunisia.
England had a rocky start to the competition when they faced Tunisia, managing to pull off a win with a late goal from skipper Harry Kane. The team looked much better when they faced Panama, putting away five goals before the end of the first half.
Belgium will be far and away the biggest challenge that England will face in the group stage of the competition. Their team is packing a lot of star power, big Premier League names like Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, and Kevin De Bruyne pack a punch for the Belgian national side.
Follow all the live action below…
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What time is it?
England vs Belgium kicks off at 19:00 at the Kaliningrad Stadium.
Where can I watch it?
Live coverage is available on ITV and online via the ITV Hub.
Odds
England: 17/10
Belgium: 15/8
Draw: 2/1
Prediction
This game will be a close one. England will need to bring the level of play that they brought for last week’s game against Panama. The Belgian side has been very impressive in the competition so far and is among the favourites to win the trophy.
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of England clash against Belgium in the final match of Group G which will determine who finishes first or second.
Finishing second arguably grants an easier passage to the semi-final and managers have hinted there will be wholesale changes with both teams already qualified.
Gareth Southgate has already achieved the first parts of his mission. Not just winning the first two group games and qualifying England for the last-16. But regarding the broader cultural context around the England team too.
Read Jack Pitt-Brooke's take on how England are becoming more popular and admired, and what that means going forward.
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Get ready for a lot of ifs
England and Belgium have already qualified for the knockout stage and have identical records - the same number of points, the same goal difference and the same number of goals scored.
Gareth Southgate’s side only sit top on fair play points, having received one fewer yellow card than their Belgian counterparts.
Both sides will play for a win but know in the back of their minds that finishing second could present easier opponents in the knockout round. Here's all the possible outcomes from the Kaliningrad Stadium.
How Trippier is taking the World Cup by storm
England's fluid 3-5-2 formation is getting the best out of Kieran Trippier who is emerging as a surprise key player for England.
Trippier’s superb start to the Russian World Cup has shown that England’s attack has the ability to take them far in this tournament, while also vindicating the boldest decision yet taken in Southgate’s short reign as England manager.
Martinez not prioritising win
Fans in England, and particularly the blue half of Merseyside, will not remember Roberto Martinez as a win-at-all-costs kind of manager. In the run up to this evening's match he has called it a 'celebration game' which detracts from the fact that this is an actual World Cup tie!
"At the final whistle I want the players to have had a good performance," said Martinez, summing up his limited aims.
Russell Brand has his say on England's World Cup
Tired of Gary Neville, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinad and other former pros banging on about the World Cup as pundits for ITV and BBC? Well then, we have just the thing for you.
In a first in a series exclusive of World Cup columns Russell Brand reveals why the tournament means so much to him.
Kane or no Kane?
Standing proudly at the top of the top goal scorers is England's Harry Kane. The Tottenham forward happily announced he is battling with Cristiano Ronaldo to take home the Golden Boot, but do you rest his against Belgium? That's the question that has been on Gareth Southgate's mind, but Kane wants to play as many games as possible.
'We've got Alli.....'
Dele Alli missed the 6-1 win against Panama after limping off in the opening group match against Tunisia with a thigh strain and only returned to training on Saturday.
"Dele is progressing well," Southgate said after Sunday's game. "Obviously he hasn't had the opportunity to train on the field (on Sunday), he did a different sort of session.
Final preparation
A few shots from England's final training session ahead of this evening's game. Gareth Southgate has resisted training inside stadiums ahead of the games, preferring England's secluded Repino training base.
Dele Alli returns to training with the team
All smiles from the camp
Fabian Delph could feature against Belgium
Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland watch on. Keep those note to yourself, Steve!
Panama vs Tunisia
Of course, England vs Belgium is not the only game taking place in Group G this evening. Panama and Tunisia are also playing at 19:00 as both teams compete for their first points of the tournament.
Tunisia lost late on to England in their first game and were thrashed 5-2 by Belgium, and Panama lost 3-0 to Belgium and then 6-1 to England but celebrated their first ever World Cup goal.
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