Kaliningrad [Russia], Jun 29 (NT): Belgium dethroned England 1-0 win in their Group G football encounter at Kaliningrad Stadium on Thursday (local time). Now the Belgium side has a top spot in the ongoing 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Worth mention here both Belgium and England already qualified to the round of 16 prior to this game.
From the beginning of the game, Belgium played attacking tricks, targeting for the net to put on an early lead, following this England's defense came under pressure and its defenders and midfielders repeatedly let down Belgium's chances of ahead an upper hand in the match.
On a related note in the first 10 minutes, Belgium made two attempts to score a goal, while in the 6th minute, Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans almost found the net but was fabulously saved by British goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Striker Michy Batshuayi helped his side in the 10th minute, by passing almost scored goal. However, the ball was stopped by English defender Gary Cahill.
Thereafter, England pulled up its socks on seeing Belgium being charged up and both teams played attacking football in the remaining first half.
In the second half, Belgium was once again taken aback England with its attacking competence on the field.
In the 51st minute, via a pass by Tielemans, his team got the first goal as the deadlock was finally broken after Belgian midfielder Adnan Januzaj played a brilliant shot outside the penalty area.
But in the 66th minute, England almost scored an equalizer when forward Marcus Rashford played a incredible straight shot, only to be blocked by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
England put every effort to score an equalizer, but the Belgian players were quick and repeatedly disturbed the 1966 champions from making any pace.
In the knockout stage, Belgium will lock the horns with Japan on July 2, while England will face Colombia on July 3. (NT)