Belgium sealed their spot as Group G winners on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over England sealed by a wonderful strike from former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj.
The win sets up a round of 16 tie against Japan for Belgium, while England will play Colombia after finishing as runners-up.
Here are three talking points from the game.
JANUZAJ SERVES REMINDER OF QUALITY
If it seems like a long time since Januzaj was the next big thing at United, that’s because it has been.
His emergence was one of the few highlights of David Moyes’ disastrous tenure at the club, but after that promising debut season in 2013-14, it was all downhill. He never quite made the grade in England, and a bizarre loan move to Borussia Dortmund – though understandable, given their propensity for developing young talents – didn’t work out. When he was finally let go by the club last summer, United fans who had once hailed Januzaj as a rising star shed few tears.
Those same fans have taken to Twitter wondering whether the club has a buy-back clause on the Real Sociedad winger (reportedly, there is one), after his wonder goal on Thursday.
Remarkably, though he made his international debut four years ago and was in Belgium’s squad for the 2014 World Cup, this was his first international goal. And as it came while United’s new next big thing, Marcus Rashford, was having a quiet display, it was perhaps even sweeter – though that thought may not have struck him.
In any case, seeing how it sealed top spot in the group, his goal may end up being a crucial one for Belgium’s World Cup chances.
Januzaj scored a picture-perfect goal.
RASHFORD AND ENGLAND’S STAND-INS FLUFF THEIR LINES
Gareth Southgate’s decision to rest several of his first-choice XI – only John Stones, Jordan Pickford, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek retained their spots from the side that brushed aside Panama so handsomely – offered an opportunity to the rest of this squad to show they should be starting for this England side.
But none of those players took their chance. In truth, most of the starters are entrenched, but Danny Rose, Eric Dier – captain for the night – and Rashford were among those who might have seen an opportunity.
Rashford will be one of the players most disappointed. There was talk after England’s opening game that he should come in for Raheem Sterling, with his superior finishing being cited as one of the reasons. So his miss when put through on goal – although it took a fine save from Thibaut Courtois in the Belgium goal – was a double whammy, denying England an equaliser and probably sealing the United striker’s short-term future as a substitute.
It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Rashford, who would have deserved his promotion ahead of England’s second game. Instead, he, like Rose and Dier, will have to be content with backup roles.
Rashford fluffed his lines and lost his chance at sealing a starting spot.
BELGIUM TAKE DESERVED TOP SPOT
Heading into this game there was talk that both sides may do their best not to top the group.
The reward for winning is a potential path to the final that will probably mean a quarterfinal against Brazil, and then a semifinal against whoever emerges amongst Argentina, France, Uruguay, and Portugal. Even if coming in second would to a tougher round of 16 matchup – Colombia rather than Japan – the quarterfinal would be against either Switzerland or Sweden, an easier prospect than Brazil.
The truth is there are no easy games in the knockouts, and in any case, it would be no surprise if England lost to Colombia and thus never benefitted from the supposed easy path.
Belgium were the best side in the group – if only narrowly – and top spot is just reward. If they beat Japan and Brazil beat Mexico to set up a blockbuster quarterfinal tie, well, that’s just part of being at the World Cup.
No side is going to win it without beating at least one or two strong sides, and Belgium are now supposed to be considered legitimate contenders. And legitimate contenders don’t worry about who they’re going to face on their path to victory.
Top spot is a well-earned reward for Belgium.
