World Cup

[monks data]

Attendance: 64,406

World Cup | Third-place Match

Jul 14, 2018 at 3pm UK

Belgium
2-0
England

Meunier (4'), Hazard (82')

FT(HT: 1-0)

England boss Gareth Southgate: 'I don't want to make major changes for Belgium'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 13 July 2018

England boss Gareth Southgate suggests that he does not intend on making wholesale changes for the World Cup third-place playoff with Belgium.

England boss Gareth Southgate has indicated that he will not change his entire starting lineup for the World Cup third-place playoff with Belgium.

Having lost to Croatia after extra time on Wednesday, it was expected that Southgate would rotate his first XI for the fixture in St Petersburg.

However, Southgate has said that each of his 23-man squad wants to feature in the game as England look to secure their second-best finish at the tournament.

At a press conference, the 47-year-old told reporters: "Everyone wants to play but sometimes it is not a good decision to play someone if their energy is not there. It won't be the same XI but we want to make as few changes as possible.

"We have high motivation to perform. We have a chance to win a medal at a World Cup, which only one other English team has ever done. There is a lot of motivation for us and Belgium have already beaten us, so we would like to address that as well."

England have not contested a third-place playoff since 1990 when succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Italy.