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The Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg will host England and Belgium — two sides who would have given anything to be in the Russian capital instead. Because it's in Moscow that the World Cup is decided. Both nations believed in their teams right until the final whistle, never giving up on the comeback. Nobody can deny the commitment and the dignity they showed on the pitch. Perhaps that's what bronze tastes like.
This match is the first chance to pick yourself up after the fall. And for Belgium, a win means making history. If the Red Devils win, they will record the finest Belgian performance in World Cup history — surpassing the side of Pfaff, Claesen and Ceulemans that finished fourth at Mexico '86. Roberto Martínez's team can go down in history beyond the result itself. Leaving a lasting impression is something the Balaguer-born manager has never struggled with — they'll confirm that at Swansea and Wigan.
Bronze should carry that bitter taste of not quite being the best. But it also reminds you how close to gold you were — just two steps away. That's what England needed: to feel like they belong among the elite. After absorbing every kind of knock going, so many that the pain itself became almost comical, The Three Lions have met expectations at a major tournament. Some players have exceeded them considerably. Take Harry Maguire — two years ago the Leicester City defender would never have imagined being a central figure for his country. In 2016, he watched his side lose from the stands. Two years on, the euphoria around him is such that a supporter has had his face tattooed.
Another factor that makes this third-place play-off compelling is the absence of fear. The dread of defeat, of one mistake costing you the title — that's already happened. Freed from that burden, all twenty-two players will have only victory in their minds, with no ghost of defeat haunting their thoughts. An English win will further vindicate the Football Association's faith in Gareth Southgate's project. A Belgian win, on the other hand, will confirm this generation as the finest in their country's history. It might seem like there's nothing at stake. I'd argue there very much is. The difference between going home with a medal and going home empty-handed is enormous.
Written by Mario Tena
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