When both teams stepped onto the pitch, you could see that Belgium and Kevin De Bruyne wanted to take the initiative and earn that bronze medal in the third-place play-off.
Fans and players of either nation would rather be in Moscow, but there was only one team that delayed their holidays for an extra game in Saint Petersburg.
Belgium didn’t and the Manchester City midfielder, alongside Eden Hazard, dominated in the first half and showed glimpses of excellence in the second 45.
The Red Devils earned their highest ever finish at a World Cup with the 2-0 victory over England in an impressive display, showing a creative side that England failed.
That was largely down to the technique and brilliance of two players. De Bruyne and Hazard showed their superiority and conducted their artistry with the football.
The midfielder picked his passes, twice through John Stones’ legs, but the focal point in the red side of Manchester failed to convert on those occasions.
https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1018151873285623814
He drove the team forward on multiple occasions allowing him to capitalise on the greater amount of space he kept finding. Something that is all too familiar in the sky blue of Manchester.
An assist for Hazard’s goal got Phil Jones’ legs in a tangle to put the icing on the cake.
The Genk youth product has had an indifferent tournament. Playing in a different role during the group games and against Japan, his form looked average as he was hindered with defensive responsibilities and unable to rely on his greatest ability – playmaking and passing.
Boss Roberto Martinez unleashed him against Brazil, France and England in a more forward combination and out of the shackles. Those performances credited the praise of a number pundits, including Gary Neville.
Vincent Kompany was also on the pitch and looked solid in his clean sheet performance. A typical defensive solidity that we have known to expect from the City captain, as he kept Kane and co out alongside the Tottenham centre-backs.
https://twitter.com/VincentKompany/status/1018196460788207616
England made changes from the semi-final defeat to Croatia, with Kyle Walker out and Fabian Delph in to add extra protection for the defence.
John Stones and Raheem Sterling kept their places although the forward was surprisingly replaced at halftime after he was promising in setting up Harry Kane for a chance and stretching the opponent’s back three at times.
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England was better in the second half and created better opportunities in a 20-minute period, which pinned the Red Devils back in their own half.
Now, England will take credit from the tournament and may have run out of steam at the most crucial time. The team is building and will need fresh legs and creativity, a De Bruyne clone would be handy, to take them to the next level.