World Cup LIVE: Belgium 0-0 England latest score, goals and updates; Harry Kane starts

England play Belgium in the World Cup’s third-place play-off in St Petersburg.

The title of third place in the World Cup is not something to be sniffed at but, in reality, both teams will be remembered in years to come as beaten semi-finalists, rather than bronze medallists.

Harry Kane will certainly think so as the game gives him the chance to add to the six goals he has already scored in the tournament and win the Golden Boot with an impressive tally.

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who has scored four, may also hope to at least draw level with Kane.

BELGIUM 1-0 ENGLAND – MEUNIER (3)

Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Witsel, De Bruyne, Tielemans, Chadli, Lukaku, Hazard.

England XI: Pickford, Jones, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Dier, Delph, Rose, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling, Kane.

BELGIUM 1-0 ENGLAND – MEUNIER

3: The Three Lions are wearing their red and white strip today while Belgium are in yellow and black. Y’know, just to make things needlessly confusing.

No early chances. No early entertainment now I think about it. Very slow, cautious and generally disinterested. Fingers crossed this is a slow-burner.

BELGIUM 0-0 ENGLAND

1: And we’re underway folks. Predictions? Sorry, but I can see a fairly comprehensive Belgium win today.

ARRIVAL

14:56: And the anthems ring around these stadium for the penultimate time at the 2018 World Cup. You can probably imagine that they weren’t sung with the same verve as they were on Wednesday.

‘WE WANT TO BE SHARP’

14:54: Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, speaking to ITV: “We want to be sharp in possession and open this England team up. Kevin de Bruyne will play more as a number 10. We expect to have a good mixture of penetration and power. I think it’s about how quick we can be on the ball. Our technical aspect will be important.”

‘MEDAL WOULD BE NICE’

14:50: Gareth Southgate, speaking to ITV: “The day after the semi-final, it was my responsibility as leader of the group to pick them up. But then the fun was back in training yesterday and they know they have a come a long way and want to finish well.

“Belgium are one of the best teams in the world and have world class players, they are fantastic and their mentality will be the same as ours.

“A medal would be lovely for the players and staff knowing they have really achieved something special. People will look at the route to this stage but I am not sure anyone in our country thought we would have played seven matches and got to game 63, we wanted to get to game 64.

“Game 63 might be at the side of my desk for the next few years.”

OH, HI…

14:47: Belgium and England are the first teams to face twice at a World Cup tournament since Turkey played Brazil twice at the 2002 World Cup.

FRIENDLY

14:44: I’m not going to lie, there doesn’t feel like there’s much bite between the two sides this afternoon.

I’ve just been flicking through some of the pictures from the stadium and they mainly show the squads hugging and joking.

There’s even one of Kevin De Bruyne playing with Vincent Kompany’s hat…

WOWZERS

14:40: Fair play to Jordan Pickford. I’ve just spotted a tweet from Henry Winter revealing a nasty incident after the Croatia defeat.

“Jordan Pickford showed commendable restraint in the tunnel after the semi-final defeat when a member of a Croatian TV crew taunted him with “You should have f***ing won that”. Pickford calmly replied “next time” and carried on to the dressing-room,” Winter tweeted.

I didn’t need more motive to support France tomorrow…

‘READY’

14:38:  England manager Gareth Southgate: “We have two options. We will either go home having shown improvement and equalled every team that has left our shores or we put in a performance and go home with a medal and become the best ever team to have left our shores.

“Every player is up for playing, we had to make a decision on some and we have to re-energise the team. The mentality of the players have been brilliant, they are ready for today.”

GOLDEN BOOT

14:30: Not sure Bobby Martinez is correct about this.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, with four goals in the tournament, is two behind top scorer Harry Kane but Martinez insists the Manchester United player will not target the Golden Boot above team success.

“We don’t look for individual rewards and Romelu has shown that with his play,” Martinez said. “Finishing third, the best finish for a Belgium national side in the World Cup, will be an achievement more than any individual award.”

You just keep thinking that, Roberto.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Chris: I think we need to look at today in context. In 2014 we came home after 3 games with one point. In 2016, Iceland eliminated us in the last 16. We came into this competition ranked equal 12th in the world. Now we are playing for 3rd place in 2018. Progress, surely?

Francis: If a team is happy with a third place finish, then there is something wrong with the mentality of the team and country. You play to win, anything less means very little.

John: How on earth does Sterling get picked yet again? 43 games and 2 goals.

LATE NIGHT…

14:20: Gareth Southgate has already put himself through a 4am rerun of England’s World Cup defeat by Croatia.

“We were 20 minutes from a World Cup final…that is going to live with me forever, there is not doubt about that,” he said.

“I’m conscious I’ve got to raise everybody but I’m up watching the game at four o’clock on Friday morning. I’m old enough now that I don’t have to beat myself up unnecessarily. I think when I was a player I had a very simplistic mindset: win and I was good, lose and I was an idiot.

“There was nothing in between and bizarrely I felt the need to punish myself for that. I’m a lot more rational now. I can see what we have achieved.”

ORIGIN?

14:15: OK, I’ve found this fact file about the third-place play-off. For some unknown reason I’m now addicted to it.

Why was the fixture introduced?

The third-place play-off was first introduced as a consolation match for the beaten semi-finalists in the 1934 tournament.

After the final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome, an Olympic-style ceremony featuring Germany, winners of the play-off in Naples the previous day, took place.

Isn’t learning fun?

CENTURY’S UP…

14:10: This will be England’s 100th game at a major international tournament, with 69 of those coming at the World Cup finals (31 at the European Championships).

Not sure what you’re supposed to do with that information…

£1.4 MILLION…

14:05: I’ve heard this questions a million times leading to today’s third-place play-off.

What is there to gain?

In theory, the title of third place in the World Cup is not something to be sniffed at but, in reality, both teams will be remembered in years to come as beaten semi-finalists, rather than bronze medallists.

Outside of the Olympics, third place carries little weight in tournament football. However, there is extra prize money at stake.

The third-placed team takes home £18million and fourth-placed £16.6million. And while some may see the game as little more than a friendly, it’s a competitive international.

The FIFA ranking points could also come in handy when it comes to future seedings.

TEAM NEWS – BELGIUM

14:00: Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has rolled out all of his big names, with Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard the attacking fulcrum.

Youri Tielemans came in for Marouane Fellaini and Thomas Meunier returned after suspension.

TEAM NEWS – ENGLAND

13:55: Gareth Southgate makes five changes to his starting XI.

Kieran Trippier was a surprise starter after limping off with a groin injury in the semi-final, while tournament leading scorer Harry Kane was given another chance to lay his hands on the Golden Boot.

Phil Jones, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were the players drafted in, replacing Kyle Walker, Ashley Young, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard.

BELGIUM vs ENGLAND

13:50: And here are the line-ups. Both managers promised to take this game seriously, and they’ve followed through with some pretty strong starting XI’s.

Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Meunier, Witsel, De Bruyne, Tielemans, Chadli, Lukaku, Hazard.

England XI: Pickford, Jones, Stones, Maguire, Trippier, Dier, Delph, Rose, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling, Kane.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Lucas: Third place play-off is nice because it means a lot for the players who haven’t featured as much to get a run out, also this England team could record our second best ever World Cup finish if they win.

Bob Moss: Apart from the extra revenue, although hardly anyone watches, what’s the points of the third place match?

Melissa: So much negativity surrounding the 3rd/4th place play-off, for crying out loud, this could be the best finish in a World Cup since 1966. I’m expecting just a couple of changes to the England side.

I’ve actually heard that England will make four changes, Melissa. Stay tuned to see…

GARETH SOUTHGATE AGREES…

13:40: Following on from the low-key return, Gareth Southgate unsurprisingly agrees with the FA’s decision.

“I mean, the reality is it’s not actually my decision,” England boss Southgate said. “But I agree with the decision. I think if we make the final, maybe it’s different.

“I must say the support we’ve had from home and the feeling of support is immense. To have been able to make a difference is something that will live with us all forever, so we can tell the way that the country has united behind football and that’s maybe more important than the performance in some respects.”

Southgate you’re the one, you still…

LOW-KEY RETURN…

13:35: England’s World Cup semi-finalists are planning a low-key return from Russia.

England are due to fly from St Petersburg to Birmingham tomorrow and the FA has confirmed that there will be no public access for fans, given airport security restrictions.

There are also no public celebrations planned despite the Three Lions’ impressive achievements in Russia, which could yet see them become the most successful team since the 1966 champions.

HAVE YOUR SAY

13:30: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

WELCOME

13:25: Good afternoon… I guess.

Sorry to sound like a petulant child but that’s exactly how I’m feeling ahead of this third-place play-off.

Today was supposed to be the calm before the storm with the entire nation going into meltdown.

You know, looting tin barbecues, stockpiling Pimms, hurriedly purchasing knock off England tops and inviting anyone you’ve ever know round to watch your brand new 50” Plasma that you bought especially for the World Cup final.

But instead we’re left with the battle for bronze…

The team news and line-ups will be out shortly so let’s get this over with…