Win over England not priority for Belgium

Macdara Ferris reports from Kaliningrad

Roberto Martinez will ring in the changes in Kaliningrad on Thursday evening for Belgium’s final group game. Unlike Gareth Southgate, Martinez made it quite clear that his priority was not a win in the match against England.

Both teams have already qualified for the knockout stages and so due to a couple of injuries, and three players having possible yellow card suspensions hanging over their heads, only Martinez’s ‘keeper is certain to start. 

Speaking on the eve of the game to the assembled media in the Kaliningrad stadium, Martinez noted he wanted to give “continuity” to his team in relation to his goalkeeper and so Thibaut Courtois will continue in goal.

However with Jan Vertonghen, Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Meunier each on a yellow card (which would be cleared after the quarter-final stage), they are likely not to play. In addition Meunier has a slight knock from the last game.

“At the moment we are qualified and that was our priority,” said Martinez. “We want to perform well but the priority is not to win. There are players on yellow cards and it isn’t professional to put at risk those players missing a knockout game. 

“It is very important to protect them and to give every player the best possible programme to be in the best condition for the knockout games. If we can win, great, but our priorities are more than winning.”

Neither Romelu Lukaku nor Yannick Carrasco trained with the Belgian team on Wednesday evening in the stadium under the watchful eye of Martinez and his assistant manager Thierry Henry. 

While Martinez said there was “good news” on the scan of Lukaku’s ankle, the game will come “one day too early for him”. All this means that Nacer Chadli, Thorgan Hazard and possibly Marouane Fellaini will come into the starting XI.

The golden generation has been a phrase used for previous England sides but is being used this time around in relation to this Belgian squad.

They were the first European team to qualify for the tournament and they got 28 points out of a total 30 on offer, scoring 43 goals en-route.

Even with changes to their starting XI, Belgium will have a star studded team on display on Thursday and Martinez says his players are at ease with any perceived pressure on them.

“They enjoy expectation. They embrace it. These players are in a very good moment in their careers. They are enjoying the expectation of a nation and not as a chore.”

Thomas Vermaelen also spoke to the media ahead of the match about his country’s expectations and that of England’s.

“We are not the top favorites but I have considered ourselves outsiders with an opportunity to win. The tournament has started very positively for us.

“I’m not surprised with England at this World Cup. They are a young, intelligent team. I expected that they would play that well and I expect them to go far in this tournament.”

England’s progression is likely to hinge on Harry Kane continuing his current excellent goalscoring form with club and country and he looks set to start in Southgate’s team.

The challenge for Belgium will be to curtail the Spurs striker who has got five goals so far in this tournament.

“He has scored a lot of goals and has been so important for Tottenham and England,” said the Barcelona defender. “He is the complete striker and is world class.”

Southgate seeks win as England gain momentum https://t.co/SaaE1FcqvJpic.twitter.com/1mgCZtHSmu

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) June 27, 2018