Belgium players celebrate after scoring a goal against England. AFPKaliningrad: It had been viewed as the game no-one wanted to win but Adnan Januzaj's fine finish early in the second half gave Belgium a 1-0 victory over England to secure top spot in Group G as both sides made wholesale changes to their lineups.
The result means Belgium, who won all three of their group games to finish on nine points, will face Japan in the last 16 while England, who finished second with six, take on Colombia.
All the pre-match talk had been about whether second place might offer an easier path to the semifinals, given that the group winners could face Brazil in the last eight.
England's Jamie Vardy (L) nad Belgium's Moussa Dembele in action. AFPIf that was a consideration then Gareth Southgate's England side can take some consolation from the defeat given that it offers a potential quarterfinal against Sweden or Switzerland rather than Brazil or Mexico, who could await Belgium.
There is, though, something presumptuous about such talk and Colombia, a team with plenty of talent, certainly won't appreciate being considered part of an 'easier path' to the quarterfinals.
But when Belgium and England next enter the field, in the last 16, the team lineups will bear little resemblance to those fielded on Thursday to complete the group stage.
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium players celebrate after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium's Nacer Chadli and England's Danny Rose after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England manager Gareth Southgate and Trent Alexander-Arnold after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgium's Marouane Fellaini in action with England's Jordan Pickford. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Jordan Pickford and John Stones applaud the fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Jamie Vardy (left) vies with Belgium's Moussa Dembele during the World Cup Group G match at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
England's Gary Cahill clears the ball off the goal line during the World Cup Group G match between England and Belgium at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Russian billionaire Leonid Fedun (right) attends the World Cup Group G match between England and Belgium at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans cheer while waiting to cross the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England at Grzechotki-Mamonovo crossing point, Poland June 28, 2018. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans gather before crossing the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
Belgian soccer fans gather before crossing the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: England vs Belgium
English soccer fans gather while waiting to cross the Polish-Russian border on their way to the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and England at Grzechotki-Mamonovo crossing point. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's players celebrate after scoring against Tunisia at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's Jose Luis Rodriguez (left) celebrates next to Ricardo Avila his team's opening goal against Tunisia at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Tunisia vs Panama
Panama's Roman Torres vies with Tunisia's Wahbi Khazri (right) during the World Cup Group G match at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia players celebrate in front of fans after Yerry Mina scores their first goal. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina (left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Senegal Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina (rear centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Senegal at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Falcao (left) vies for the ball with Senegal's Idrissa Gana Gueye and Senegal's Cheikhou Kouyate during the World Cup Group H match between Senegal and Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Johan Mojica in action with Senegal's Ismaila Sarr. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Yerry Mina and Davinson Sanchez in action with Senegal's M'Baye Niang. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Mateus Uribe in action. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Johan Mojica goes down after sustaining an injury. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's fans cheer as they arrive to attend the World Cup Group H match between Senegal and Colombia at the Samara Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Senegal's Sadio Mane reacts during the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Senegal vs Colombia
Colombia's Mateus Uribe in action with Senegal's Ismaila Sarr and Cheikhou Kouyate. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players applaud their fans as they qualified for the second round. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players applaud fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Shinji Kagawa applauds fans after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima greets his son Kensei after the final whistle during the World Cup Group H match between Japan and Poland at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland players celebrate victory after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan players after the match. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Jan Bednarek (2nd left) celebrates with Kamil Glik (right) and teammates after scoring the opener against Japan at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Michal Pazdan reacts after a challenge. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Gotoku Sakai in action with Poland's Artur Jedrzejczyk. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Poland's Jan Bednarek in action with Japan's Yoshinori Muto. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan fans watching the action during the World Cup match between Japan and Poland. Reuters
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FIFA World Cup: Japan vs Poland
Japan's Yoshinori Muto (left) pressures Poland's goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski during the World Cup Group H match between Japan and Poland at the Volgograd Arena on June 28, 2018. AFP
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As expected both managers utilised their squads to the full - Belgium's Roberto Martinez switching nine players and Southgate bringing in eight from his reserves, a decision he had described as a 'no brainer' in the circumstances.
Belgium created the better openings in a poor first half while England showed greater urgency but a lack of finesse in the final third.
Former Manchester United midfielder Januzaj broke the deadlock with a superb curling effort in the 51st minute and the manner of the goal celebration should have silenced any fears that Martinez's side were not interested in victory.
Belgium's Adnan Januzaj celebrates after scoring a goal against England. AFPEngland then pushed on looking for an equaliser but, without their rested talisman Harry Kane they lacked a cutting edge.
Marcus Rashford had the best chance but his shot was already wide of the target when Thibaut Courtois got his fingertips to the ball.
Belgium came close to a second goal in the final minutes when Jordan Pickford made a fine, diving save to keep out a rasping Dries Mertens effort.
