England vs Belgium: Roberto Martinez’s comments have made game more akin to a friendly than Group G showdown

Belgium could make up to 10 changes for the game

To hear Roberto Martinez describe Thursday night's match in Kaliningrad as "a celebration game" was to lose any lingering sense that it may resemble anything like a genuine World Cup tie.

Ever since the weekend, when England and Belgium both won their second group games by big margins the competitive tension has steadily deflated out of this game like a punctured balloon.

Whatever England do - and Gareth Southgate is expecting to make four changes or so, with Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling rested - it almost doesn't matter given the attitude Belgium are taking to the game. It takes two teams to make a match and Belgium's priority is to protect their players, and take a favourable path through the knock-out rounds.

That was Martinez's clear message when speaking to the media at the Kaliningrad Stadium on Wednesday night. "We are qualified, and that was the priority we were chasing," he said. "Now we need to look at individual players tomorrow and we want to perform well. But the priority isn't to win. That's the reality of the situation."

That situation means Thursday's game will be more like a testimonial, a Community Shield, or a third/fourth place play-off, than a conventional game. The stories of the individual players will matter more than their teams, as they attempt to prove to their coaches that they deserve their place in the knock-out rounds. Martinez is considering changing every outfield player except Thibaut Courtois, a remarkable statement and the strongest proof that he is not chasing a result here.

"At the final whistle I want the players to have had a good performance," said Martinez, summing up his limited aims. "And for everyone to have a better opportunity to contribute to the team for the knockout stage."

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Certainly there will be no acrimony or regrets however it ends. Southgate and Martinez get on very well and Southgate said how relieved he is that it is not a ‘them or us’ scenario in this match. Both men will be happy enough at the end of the game, whatever happens. It is shaping up to be the opposite of a grudge match.

"He's a really good guy, I know him pretty well," Southgate said of Martinez. "So I’m pleased we’re not there thinking one of the teams could be going home tomorrow."

Martinez is never one to be shy with enthusiastic praise and last night he was as positive as possible about Southgate's own work with England.

"There is youth about England, belief, real desire, incredible satisfaction every time they score a goal. It's down to Gareth Southgate. He's a thinker, a very meticulous worker, and I wish him the best of luck after tomorrow."

It has been a week of high drama in the knock-out rounds, with so many games decided at the very end, amid heavy tension. Germany were knocked out, broken by two late goals. Argentina made it through with four minutes left, leaving Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain in tears. Portugal were inches away from being eliminated by Iran. And yet this game stands apart. Whatever happens there will be no tears, no tension, no explosions of celebrating substitutes onto the pitch, no acrimony, no recriminations, no inquests after defeat, no all-night party over victory.

Which is all fine. It cannot be Argentina 2-1 Nigeria every night. But neither will it be the essence of the World Cup, which is why we are all here in the first place.