Belgium beats England 2-0, finishes third in FIFA World Cup 2018

Eden Hazard has given Belgium a 2-0 lead over England in the World Cup third-place playoff.

Hazard picked up the ball from Kevin de Bruyne on an incisive Belgian counterattack and fired it past Jordan Pickford in the England goal in the 82nd minute.

Belgium has its best-ever World Cup finish, beating fourth place in 1986.


Thomas Meunier gave the Belgians the lead in the fourth minute, scoring from close range off a cross from Nacer Chadli.

Meunier turned in Nacer Chadli's low cross from close range after Romelu Lukaku's pass had sliced open the England defence. Belgium produced some flowing moves and always looked dangerous while England also threatened, with Harry Kane firing wide after being set up by Raheem Sterling.

Belgium could have made it 2-0 seven minutes later when Kevin de Bruyne took the ball in a good position but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a key save.

England started the game slowly, looking every inch a team which was taken to extra time in its semifinal loss to Croatia three days earlier, despite making five changes to the starting lineup.

Harry Kane, the tournament's leading scorer, had England's best chance but shot wide after losing his footing.