#63 England v Belgium ~ 3rd /4th place match thread

[Hammer1972]

Seems slightly weird if goals in this are counted towards the golden boot...

[Denzil]

Can see Lukaku scoring a hat trick and claiming the golden boot from us / Kane too.

[BondsoBob]

A goal for Kane and the golden Boot, and finally a goal for Sterling!

3rd place...our best result since 1966.

I'm up for it as well ! 63 years old, a tad overweight, two dodgy knees, a dodgy hip. But why not !

[sutts07]

Never was so little cared by so many about so much.

I'm not even sure I will watch it. May as well just watch the last group game again.

[Kludgehammer]

Worthless as a match - but, if I were the waistcoated one, I would use this to try a different formation/comination of players to see whether there's a plan B available within the squad that we missed during the real games.

The obvious one to try is Welbeck, as he's the one who's had least game time - would be interesting to play him with Sterling or Rashford up front. Alternately, try tinkering with the formation a bit to cope with a more difficult midfield - Henderson + Delph, RLC, whoever (but not Dier!)

[warp]

Worthless as a match - but, if I were the waistcoated one, I would use this to try a different formation/comination of players to see whether there's a plan B available within the squad that we missed during the real games.

The obvious one to try is Welbeck, as he's the one who's had least game time - would be interesting to play him with Sterling or Rashford up front. Alternately, try tinkering with the formation a bit to cope with a more difficult midfield - Henderson + Delph, RLC, whoever (but not Dier!)

i'd try a back four, could have helped in the second half yesterday.

[sendô]

The most pointless match in football. I'm amazed that the World Cup still has this. Win a bronze medal? This isn't the Olympics.

I suspect he'll play a decent team. Kane will want the Golden Boot, as with Lukaku. Th players will also surely want to demonstrate that they can beat Belgium, and so were in the semis on merit rather than having the "easy route".

[Billydinho]

Saturday is a proper piss up. Best one of the tournament for me.

[e17]

Saturday is a proper piss up. Best one of the tournament for me.

Same. No pressure and get to watch England a final time.

Usually don’t bother with 3rd/4th, but it’s bonus football in the sunshine

[Haarlemammer]

One consideration is that there are FIFA ranking points awarded for this game with the same weighting as if it were the WCF. A win against the 3rd rated team in the world could help us with seedings in future competitions.
Madness really. FIFA should scrap the playoff as many others have said...

[Patito]

Saturday is a proper piss up. Best one of the tournament for me.

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

Sorry for hijacking this thread folks, but i have a framed signed Geoff Hurst England 66 shirt for sale in the Memorabilia section.
I just wanted to pop something in here as I doubt it'd get much exposure in there at all.

Would be grateful if you're interested or know of anyone that may be

Link

[pablo jaye]

I am curious to see how Southgate approaches this game.

On one hand, it is a pointless match, so why bother trying; just give the other players a run-out.
On the other hand there is: the Golden Boot contest between Lukaku and Kane; a chance to place our highest since 66; prove that we could have beaten Belgium the first time (if we had wanted to); restore a bit confidence in the lads and finish with a win.
My feeling is that Gareth will be thinking about the latter scenario.

Personally, I don't like matches that are not played with 100% commitment to win and wouldn't want to see the match being treated as a joke (even if it is).

I agree with you about Southgate’s approach to this - and just like he made us believe in the England team again, he will get us to believe that the 3rd place play-off is a proper match!!

[sicknote]

Come on England!!!


And thankfully we are playing in red

[Algarve Hammer]

And thankfully we are playing in red

It's not helping.

[Harry Hound]

Belgium has quality and experience all over the pitch, this looks like it could be a real reality test for us. I truly hope not.

[61dicksey]

Stirling has been a massive pile this tournament

[Cuenca 'ammer]

Early doors Sterling giving the ball away too cheaply.....defensively too slow got done for pace, no one closing the down after they won the first ball....

no service again to Kane......

[Faithless]

It's all part of our cunning plan.....

[chuffster]

WTf is STerling playing at there?!