Why finishing 2nd may benefit England

After England and Belgium secured their place in the World Cup Knockout stages after their thrashing wins over Panama and Tunisia over the weekend, both teams will now be looking beyond their match-up on Thursday and predicting their path to the final. 

England and Belgium go into Thursday's match in Kaliningrad locked on points and goal difference but as England have received fewer bookings (2) than their Group G competitors (3) they sit on top. Both managers have already expressed their outlook on the game ahead, with Southgate suggesting that England “Would like to keep momentum and keep progressing as a team” while Red Devil’s coach Roberto Martinez stated that there would be “major changes” to his line-up on Thursday. 

Both teams will go into Thursday's game with the precaution that topping the group would result in a much harder route to the final: 

Group Winner Possible Route: 

Last 16: Senegal 

Quarter-Finals: Brazil/Mexico

Semi-Finals: France/Portugal/Argentina 

Final: Spain 

Second Place Possible Route: 

Last 16: Japan/Columbia 

Quarter-Finals: Switzerland/Sweden

Semi-Finals: Spain/Croatia 

Final: Brazil 

If England were to top Group G and see off either Senegal, Columbia or Japan in the last 16,  they would meet Brazil or Mexico after their defending champions Germany were knocked out. 

By finishing second, their prospects of reaching the Semi-Finals look more achievable as they will be left to face the winner of the Last-16 tie between Switzerland and Mexico where either team would be favourites to progress and meet Spain or Croatia in the Semi-Finals. 

The Semi-Finals would be a tough match-up if they were to beat Belguim and top the group.  With the other games being filled by tournament favourites England's likely opponents in the Semi's will be either France, Argentina or Portugal. 

With it being both managers first World Cup as a manager and their teams being tipped as dark horses in the tournament, both Gareth Southgate and Martinez will be looking to go as far as they can. Thus, to avoid the heavy-weight quarter-final showdown with Brazil, England could be better off drawing and getting a few cards or even losing against Belgium on Thursday to ensure that they get that 2^nd place finish which will give them the easier route to the final.