Dave’s Dribble: Belgium go forward unbeaten
A Soccer World Cup round-up by Dave Savides.
Belgium have gone through the group stage unbeaten with a basically boring 1-0 win over England.
This was a disappointing game in prospect from the time both side ran onto the pitch having made wholesale changes and fielding their reserves.
The fact that 15 of the 22 run-on players all perform in the English Premier League also meant they knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses well enough to nullify each other.
With an identical record going into the game, and both having already qualified, they were vying for 1st and 2nd spot on the Group G table.
First half play was wishy-washy, with Belgium’s Youri Tielemans coming closest with an almighty strike from distance.
Pickford had his hands full dealing with it at full stretch and soon after, his goalmouth was in a shambles and the ball was frantically cleared off the line.
England kept playing the long ball down the middle hoping to use Jamie Vardy’s speed but the Leicester City striker managed no clear chances.
Zero score at the break but England did come out looking more purposeful.
So too did Belgium, and Adnan Januzaj set the game alight in the 50th minute by feinting right then moving left and smashing it past a flailing Pickford (1-0).
Even English supporters were happy the match was at last given some entertainment value, and the pace finally picked up.
From a free kick soon after, Alexander Arnold hit the red wall from 25 metres out.
England should have equalised when Marcus Rashford was put clear through but one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois he struck at a height comfortable enough for the Chelsea stopper to get a finger to and deflect it past the post.
What a pity it wasn’t Vardy or Harry Kane, but a bit more like it from England as Belgium dropped back and played from deeper.
England had two late chances: Rashford hit a free kick over the wall and over the bar while Man United’s Marouane Fellaini blocked an on-target shot from Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck.
The final action saw Pickford forced into a fine save from Dries Mertens and it remained 1-0.
England will now face the tough Colombians while Belgium have the easier route against Japan.
England may, however, have been looking further down the line at avoiding a clash with Brazil.
