World Cup Daily: What would Belgium have been?

After each day of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Sportsnet.ca World Cup blog will recap the events of the day and look at the list of matches the next day

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THE RESULT

Belgium 2, England 0 in Saint Petersburg: Report || Statistics of the match

MAIN DISCUSSION POINT

What could have been for Belgium
A 2-0 win against England in the match for Saturday's third place ensured the Belgium's best result in the World Cup. the semifinals and was ranked fourth at the 1986 tournament in Mexico). A bronze medal is useless, but it's not the color that Belgium was waiting for, and you can not help but think that the Red Devils will feel like they're losing their best chance of winning A World Cup

The Belgians regularly played the best football in this competition, sweeping everything in front of them with a beautifully entertaining game style and a ruthlessly effective counterattack. Not even Neymar and the powerful Brazil managed to take over Belgium, which scored 16 goals in tournament. France, however, has proved to be a bridge too far, the Belgians unable to negotiate their way past the magnificent duo of N 'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba to reserve their place in Sunday's final.

What now for Belgium "Golden Generation" Players? It was probably the last kick of the World Cup for Toby Alderweireld (29), Dries Mertens (31), Jan Vertonghen (31), Thomas Vermaelen (32) and Vincent Kompany (32). ). Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard will be both 31 years old at the time of the 2020 World Cup in Qatar

Never before has Belgium had such a group of talented players, many of them world-clbad, and the Overwhelming majority of them are still in the prime of their lives. This Belgian team should be proud of what it has achieved in Russia, but it will surely also be haunted by its inability to finish the job.

BEST GOAL

In the fourth minute, Belgium hit England in counterattack, Romelu Lukaku sending the ball to Nacer Chadli on the left flank. Chadli threw a dangerous center into the box that Thomas Meunier beat Englishman Danny Rose before pushing back goalkeeper Jordan Pickford

BEST SAVE

In the 70th minute, Marcus Rashford slipped his English teammate Eric Dier to goal. Dier took a shot at Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but defender Toby Alderweireld made a stellar release to score a goal for Tottenham's teammate.

BEST MOMENT

In the 80th minute, Belgium set up a fast-paced counterattack, with nice pbades between Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens. Miller hit the last shot as England goaltender Jordan Pickford did well to parry. That would have been the goal of the tournament if Meunier had beaten Pickford.

BEST TWEET

HE SAID

"In the second half we played very well. on the ropes for the first half hour and we just had no goal.We took out one and we put the pressure in. But the guys could not give anymore, it was a tough tournament Belgium is obviously a good team, I can not blame the guys; "- England Harry Kane

SIX PACK OF STATS

• Belgium and England are the first teams to play. face twice in the same World Cup since Turkey played in Brazil twice in the 2002 tournament. [19659009] • 19 of the 22 players in the starting lineups play Saturday for the clubs of the English Premier League

• Thomas Meunier is the 10th different player to score for Belgium at this World Cup, gallant France tournament record (in 1982) and Italy (2006).

• England has won only one of its last 22 World Cup matches where it conceded the first goal (with 16 losses). His only win came in the final against West Germany in 1966.

• Assuming Kylian Mbappé or Antoine Griezmann do not score three goals on Sunday, Harry Kane is the first English player to finish top scorer of the World Cup since Gary Lineker in 1986.

• Saturday marked the 100th match of England at a major international tournament, with 69 of those who came to the World Cup World (31 at the European Championships).

Courtesy of Opta

STAR OF THE MATCH

Eden Hazard, Belgium: He scored the goal that sealed the victory of the Red Devils, and was a vital cog in the blazing counter-attack of Belgium that gave England a lot of problems.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AT SUNDAY

FINAL: France vs. Croatia in Moscow (11:00 ET) – It all boils down to that. France is looking to win its first World Cup since 1998 – and to redeem itself for its defeat against Italy in the 2006 final, and its defeat against Portugal in the final of Euro 2016 Croatia is trying to become the first "new" nation to win the World Cup since 2010 when Spain did it and became only the ninth team to win the most prestigious championship. and the most important in the field of sport

19659014] Daniel Harris of The Ringer writes about the final of the 1954 World Cup between Germany and Germany. West and Hungary and how this game changed football forever:

almost obsolete, the march of technology leaves us with little that requires a look of wit. As such, the things we love can no longer support our wonderment according to the way we hope they are; rather, we must rely on their true nature, a terrifying norm in all contexts.

In 1954, television was born for football: the Swiss World Cup was the first to be televised and immortalized in an official film, a serious challenge for a competition that is still learning about itself. Generally, football is unfathomably bound, delivering scores of goals remaining, including: the highest average per game (5.38!), The highest total of goals per team and the difference of goals (Hungary, 27 and over-17) for and against the total by a winner (West Germany, 25 and 14).

But no competition can be judged solely by such a standard, especially when there have been so many blows. Every World Cup is great, but a big World Cup – which is great not only in the moment but for all times – is defined by great games, between big teams, and big players. The Switzerland & # 39; 54 provided all the details, and more, especially a final that could be the most important game ever played.