Martinez's men take momentum in to knock out phase

Macdara Ferris reports from Kaliningrad

Was winning actually a losing strategy for Belgium in this World Cup and will England’s defeat actually help them with overall victory? The rest of the tournament will have to play out before we can make a firm call.

Both managers were insistent both before and after their last group game that they wanted to win the tie in Kaliningrad on Thursday, despite suggestions as to which side of the draw would benefit them to be in for the knock out stages.

As it was Roberto Martinez’s men have the momentum going into the last 16 with their 1-0 win over England.

Their prize is Japan in the next round but possibly Brazil in the quarter-final as they now sit in the perceived more difficult side of the draw.

This World Cup has been unpredictable but in Kaliningrad on Thursday evening both managers, as predicted, made wholesale changes to their teams.

Martinez kept just two players from his team’s previous 5-2 win over Tunisia and they made it three wins out for three in the group stages.

Southgate spins positives from losing battle of the B teams with Belgium https://t.co/7rpKMlEjp9pic.twitter.com/fh1iaz7KKp

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) June 29, 2018

“Making predictions in the World Cup can be difficult,” the Belgium coach said in the post-match press conference.

“Germany are out and I don’t think many people predicted that. We aren’t looking at paths. Japan is the only priority we have.”

The Spanish manager described himself as “delighted” with the win and with the positives, as Southgate would also note for his team later, in giving valuable game time to all his outfield players

“We had many positives from today. We made big medical calls. Thomas Vermaelen is ready for his place in the knock out stages.

“Vincent Kompany got 20 minutes. We kept a clean sheet. Now we need to focus on Japan.

“The so-called golden generation wasn’t playing today but young players came in and can now contribute to that generation.

“Young players came into an environment that is different than at club level. Every outfield player has been involved.”

Adnan Januzaj scored the winner on the night and he picked up the man of the match.

“He was “grateful” to win it but it was clear that grabbing a goal to beat England meant a lot to him after the disappointing conclusion to his time playing in playing in the country.

“I’m pleased to score a great goal against such a good opponent,” said Januzaj.

“My job was to show the people in England where I had a lot of criticism that I was here.

“I have put in a lot of work. Playing with Real Sociedad has made me grow as a player.”

Belgium will travel to Rostov for the first time in this tournament for their last 16 tie on Monday against Japan who finished second in their group – they qualifyied for the knock out stages by way of a better disciplinary record than Senegal.