Belgium vs England, Live Updates, FIFA World Cup: Meunier Puts Belgium in the Lead Against England

Belgium enjoy a share of the possession with Hazard taking up a central position in the move. Hazard pops up to shoot and belgium have their first corner. The set-piece is a training ground routine that does not quite work out right, but Alderweireld still manages to get in a sharp attempt from inside the penalty box. 

Youri Tielemans is percieved by many, including Roberto Matinez, as the future of Belgium for the next ten (if not more) years. The midfielder is giving them some arguments to support that today.

If anyone had doubts about the motivation of the Belgians to give all they have to win today, the situation is a little clearer. The discipline, focus and intensity they display is quite impressive!

Half an hour into the game and England have had more of the ball but Belgium have the crucial goal and are looking more sharp than their opponents today. 

Lukaku on hand to pick up the scraps from a misdirected header by John Stones. He finds Hazard who cuts in and plays a one-two with him before laying it up for Tielemans to shoot - that's well blocked out by England. 

England continue to hog the ball in places that can't hurt Belgium, who are more than happy to let that happen. 

Both sides have been happy to hold onto the ball for some periods when they get it. The edge and the tempo isn't as high as the rest of the tournament. England in the last five minutes have seen more of the ball and must be sharp in attack to make that count. 

Sterling had another chance to get a shot on goal and test Courtois, but he has shot terribly off target. England started in sleepy fashion but are looking to raise the tempo  a bit as they want to make sure they show the semi-final berth was no fluke. 

A big chance for England around the half way mark of the half! Eric Dier's long ball finds Sterling who tees up his captain unselfishly, but Kane scuffs the shot and sends it into the stands. 

While England are now looking to get back into the game with a few threatening moves, Belgium have are currently enjoying hogging the ball and are in no hurry with Hazard even picking to play 60 yard back pass to his keeper. 

Maguire once again climbs highest at the corner and heads goalwards but it is down the throat of Courtois. 

Loftus Cheek doing well on the right as he cuts through the defense and squares the ball back towards the centre. Kompany though is in the way and it is a corner. 

Kevin de Bruyne finds Lukaku with a defense splitting pass, but the striker's first touch is bad. That has always been an issue with him. That was a chance to eat into Kane's lead for the Golden boot. Lukaku has not scored since the first two games. 

Kompany keeps Kane from waltzing into the box and shooting, but then Trippier's ball in finds Loftus Cheek who heads it goalwards without power and Courtois can collect easily. 

Fabian Delph looks up from distance but his shot has no power and that was never going to trouble Courtois. Belgium giving England quite a runaround 

At the other end, Rose tries to intercept a pass to de Bruyne from Lukaku after Hazard burst through with it from the middle initially, but Rose can only deflect the pass and de Bruyne's attempt of passing it past Pickford did not work out to well. 

Trippier sends the ball down the line to Sterlin who came away from Kompany and tried to shoot with his left foot. But the goal drought of more than three years continues. 

England free-kick on the right wing, and Trippier's ball in too long for anyone and the keeper can collect easily. 

Kevin de Bruyne and Lukaku look to combine down the right channel once again. But England's defense manage to take care of that. Belgium have come out of the blocks fast whereas England have been quite slow. 

Tripper sends in a reasonable low cross from the right but Belgium clear without fuss after Sterling tried to use his pace to catch the defense napping. Courtois though mopped up easily at the back.

So clearly the gloves are off in this match! That was a fantastic ball out to Hazard by by Lukaku before it eventually resulted in the goal. 

GOAL: Meunier puts Belgium in the lead early on after Eden Hazard finds him in the box with a pinpoint cross from the left. 

Some bright early play by Rose, wins the ball off De Bruyne and then steads himself and plays a careful pass to Stones, allowing England to begin a bit of possession play.

We've kicked off in this match and England are stroking the ball around in their red and white kit while Belgium are in yellow. 

The players are in the tunnel and all set for their final appearances at the World Cup. They are in the tunnel and waiting to emerge for the national anthems before kick-off. 

England will have to wait another four years for football to come home after a heartbreaking extra time defeat to Croatia. The Three Lions will look for Golden Boot leader Harry Kane to solidify a third place win, while powerful midfielder Eric Dier will sit in front of England's defensive three to clean up any balls that Belgium's creative midfielders come up with.

Belgium come into this game after losing to France 1-0 in a thrilling Semi-Final. The Red Devils look to have a repeat of their Group G match, having beaten England already once this tournament 1-0. The Belgians will look for striker Romelu Lukaku to bag the goals while playmakers Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne will look to dictate tempo.

A small reminder as to what happened in the Group G clash when Belgium and England played. Both sides played their second string sides in the contest as it was mostly a contest to decide who would top the group. Belgium came out 1-0 winners after Adnan Januzaj scored a wonderful goal. 

For Belgium, one of the motivating factors will be finishing the World Cup better than the team from 1986 who lost this play-off. A bronze medal would see Belgium's 'Golden Generation' return with the best ever finish at this show piece event. 

FORMATIONS // #BELENG // #WorldCup

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