World Cup 2018: Gary Cahill tells England to play to win against Belgium 'to build momentum and keep that good feeling'

England's most experienced player says his side are planning to win against the Red Devils on Thursday evening, regardless of how many changes both teams make in Kaliningrad

Gary Cahill knows how unusual this England situation is. He has been to two tournaments before - it should have been three, more on which later - and has never known England to have won both of their first two games. This is unchartered territory, even for Cahill, England’s most experienced and decorated player.

“It’s all about momentum,” as Cahill said in Repino on Tuesday afternoon. England never had it in World Cup 2014, they never really had it in Euro 2016 but they certainly have it now. More of it than they have had at a tournament since 2004.

Even the first game against Tunisia still feels important now, eight days on, because that last-minute winner was what launched the rest of the campaign, and the big win over Panama that followed. “Everyone spoke before on the importance of winning the first game, and I had never been involved in that,” Cahill said. “It would give you a foothold in the tournament, a chance for the lads to settle down and get into the flow and momentum. Instead of if you lost the first game, your backs are to the wall and the pressure is mounting.”

Two years ago in France, England conceded a late equaliser to let their lead slip against Russia. This time the reverse happened, with a late winner instead. “I remember the game against Russia where we drew, having conceded late on,” Cahill said. “That was massive, it was huge. I felt that the other day against Tunisia. Harry said after he thought it was another one of those days, and if it had finished a draw, the difference after would have been massive. Harry’s winner was vital.”

That meant England were a “relaxed side” against Panama, and now they go into Thursday’s Belgium game under “no pressure”. The players can enjoy it again. The question is how much England want to win the game, up against a Belgium side likely to make 10 changes, because they prefer to finish second and not have to play in Rostov on Monday night. Cahill insists that England are planning to win.

“The discussions have been to go and win the game,” he said. “That’s the truth, to go and win the game. To build momentum, to keep that good feeling. You can look too far ahead.”

But Cahill is a central figure on both sides of the argument. Yes, he knows about the power of momentum, but Cahill also wants to play. Gareth Southgate has admitted he will make changes, not just to rest tired players but to reward those who have been training well. That suggests it will be more than just two or three.

Cahill is pushing for a place against Belgium (AFP/Getty Images)

And the more changes that Southgate makes, the more likely it is that Cahill will play. Replacements are likely up front and in midfield, to rest tired legs and keep game-changing bench options fresh. But if the back three, the part of the England team that needs the most work, is disrupted on Thursday night, then Southgate will be changing more players than he keeps.

Cahill did not talk about his own situation but he did say he knows that both teams will be making wholesale changes to their teams. “Both teams are going to make changes, that’s well documented and Belgium are carrying a few knocks,” Cahill said. “It doesn’t matter. Who’s going to come in? Mousa Dembele? He is one of the best midfielders in our league.”

Cahill is England's most experienced player in Russia (PA)

And as much as the players talk it up, the talk of the pressure being less suggests it will not be as especially hard-fought contest. “We are going to make changes and they are going to be top players who come in. For both teams, it’s a rare occasion when the pressure has eased off it a bit but the size of the game still makes it our biggest test.”

If Cahill does come in he is likely to miss playing against Dries Mertens, the Belgian winger who is more likely to be rested. The two have a shared history, Cahill missing Euro 2012 after being pushed by Mertens in a warm-up friendly against Belgium, colliding into Joe Hart and breaking his jaw. But in March this year, Mertens spotted Cahill in a restaurant in Dubai and came over to apologise, almost six years on.

“For me the situation was dead and buried, and I actually respected him a hell of a lot for doing that,” Cahill said. “That’s not something he had to do. He’s obviously a decent fella.”