[Archive 2018-07-16] FIFA World Cup 2018: Belgium beats England 2-0 to claim third place finish

Historical archive — originally published 2018-07-16. This report records what was known on that date. It is not current news; subsequent events may have changed the situation. Wikinews closed in May 2026.

On Saturday, Belgium defeated England 2–0 in the third-place match of the 2018 FIFA Football World Cup. Thomas Meunier scored an early goal and Eden Hazard doubled the lead for Belgium in the 82nd minute to seal off the third place at the tournament.

England had more ball possession. Meunier opened the scoring for Belgium in the 4th minute, scoring a right-footed shot from within the penalty box, from Nacer Chadli's assist. Chadli was in an offside position in the 13th minute, from Vincent Kompany's through ball. In the 23rd minute, English striker Harry Kane missed a chance to equalise from Raheem Sterling's assist. In the 39th minute, Belgium made their first substitution. Chadli was substituted off due to injury and was replaced by Thomas Vermaelen. Just before the first half whistle, Belgium tried to double the lead but Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bryune's attempts were blocked.

In the second half, England made a double substitution, as Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford came on for Danny Rose and Sterling. English defender John Stones was the first to get a yellow card. He was booked in the 52nd minute for a bad foul. At the one-hour mark, Lukaku was taken off for Dries Mertens. In the 70th minute, Rashford assisted Eric Dier, and Dier nearly equalised for England, chipping the ball over Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but the attempt was blocked by Belgian defense. Moments later, Harry Maguire tried to head the ball in the goal, but the ball went wide. Maguire was booked in the 76th minute. English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford stopped Belgium from doubling their lead in the 80th minute on the counter-attack, but two minutes later, Belgium scored their second goal. De Bryune assisted Hazard, and Hazard scored a right-footed shot from within the penalty area. In the injury time, Axel Witsel was shown a yellow card. Moments later, the referee blew the final time whistle and Belgium won the third place in the tournament.

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