It was the game against Panama in the group stage match when England won by a 6-1 score and a hashtag, #Itscominghome, started trending on Twitter in England. The fans of the winning country were confident that the 2018 World Cup was coming home with the players.

Continuing on the winning run, England defeated Columbia in the round of 16 and Sweden in the quarter-finals. Watching the team winning the games, English fans became overconfident. They thought the Premier League dominated team had good chances of winning the World Cup.

However, their overconfidence came to an end in the semis against the underdogs of the match, Croatia.

The decisive goal, by Mario Mandzukic in the extra-time of the game, shattered England’s title dreams as well as English fans’ hopes, according to CBS Sports.

However, they were still in the competition as they had to compete with Belgium, who lost in the second semi-final match against France, for the third place of World Cup. The game was played in Krestovsky Stadium, Russia on July 14.

First period

England came out with some major changes in the playing-11 from their last game as the coach, Gareth Southgate, excluded Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Ashley Young, Dele Alli, and Jesse Lingard. The rested players were replaced by the players who were mostly unused during the competition.

Phil Jones, Loftus-Cheek, and Fabian Delph made their first appearance for England in the World Cup 2018.

The team still looked strong to compete with the Belgian side in their last game.

However, England conceded a goal after just three minutes of the game. Thomas Meunier scored Belgium’s first goal with an assist by Nacer Chadli. The English players looked to find an equalizer in the first-half but failed to unlock the Belgian defense.

Second half

England started the second-half with domination after substituting Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling with Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford. Harry Kane almost scored in the 55th minute when the substitute, Jesse Lingard, crossed the ball to the striker.

Most of the time, Belgium tried to catch the opponents on counterattacks.

A sensational long-pass by the Belgian, Toby Alderweireld, to Hazard, almost earned them the second goal but a heedful defense by Fabian Delph saved England, noted the Guardian.

England looked dependent on crosses most of the time. Again on the 69th minute, Eric Dier came close to scoring the equalizer after beating Belgian defense and goalkeeper, but a sublime defense, by Alderweireld on the goal-line, kept the ball out from going in.

In the 81st minute, Belgium again caught England on a counterattack and a short-pass by De Bruyne to Hazard earned them the second goal after a sensational run by Hazard beat the goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford.

England couldn’t score any goal by the end of the injury time.

English players kept possession for most of the second-half but failed to stun Belgian defense. The game ended with a 2-0 win for Belgium.

Something for England

Although England couldn’t win any medal this World Cup, they are certainly going back home with an accolade. Six goals, more than any player in the competition, by Harry Kane throughout the competition earned him the golden boot.

Another thing England earned this World Cup is confidence. They certainly got carried away with wins before losing to Croatia, but they learned a lot this year. The team has a young squad and if they keep working together for the next World Cup, they have a big chance to lift the 2022 World Cup title at Qatar.
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