Group G of the 2018 FIFA World Cup had its team’s fates nearly completely decided when their third group stage match came about. Panama and Tunisia, who went head-to-head, were already out of the tournament. Belgium and England were on their way into the knockout rounds but needed to decide which team was bound to win the group.
England
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With both teams already qualified for the knockout rounds, England and Belgium would meet up to decide the order of finish in Group G. The catch: the loser would end up in the easier side of the bracket. Both teams had six points, eight goals for and two goals against. In this case, a draw would have England being on top of the group due to “Fair Play”, having less yellow cards than Belgium.
First Half
The first 45 minutes of the match were lackluster.
Youri Tielemans put a shot off outside of the box in the 6th minute. This would be the only shot on goal from both sides in the first half, with Jordan Pickford having no problem in keeping the game scoreless early on.
As both sides took possession, neither attempted to make aggressive attacks. If anything, much of the first half was nonchalant.
Second Half
With many believing the score would stay its course, Belgium would strike early in the latter half of the match.
From the right side of the box, Adnan Januzaj made room for himself and sent a left-footed curler to give Belgium the 1-0 lead.
England’s best shot at equalizing came in the 66th minute, as Jamie Vardy found Marcus Rashford on a through ball. Rashford hit it with his right foot but Thibaut Courtois got a piece of the ball with his left hand to concede the corner to England.
The final sign of danger from either side came from Dries Mertens, who was subbed on earlier for Januzaj. Mertens sent a banger from outside of the box and was saved at the top of the goal.
Panama
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For a match with both sides playing their final game of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Panama and Tunisia put together a much better show than their Group G counterparts. Both teams, playing for pride, were looking for their first points on the tournament.
First Half
Panama, looking for their first points in their World Cup debut, played on the defensive end as Tunisia pressed forward. Five shots in the first 20 minutes put pressure on the Panama defense but the tides would change for the Central-American side.
Jose Luis Rodriguez took a left-footed shot from outside of the box and took a deflection from Tunisia’s Yassine Meriah, which eventually went in for an own goal in the 33rd minute.
As the tides turned for Panama, Tunisia kept pushing back in an attempt to come back. After the own goal, Tunisia put together four more shots with no success.
Second Half
The second half began with a team-driven goal for Tunisia. After clinical passing, Wahbi Khazri sent a pass from the right side of the box to the front of goal to find a streaking Fakhreddine Ben Youssef for the easy touch. After 51 minutes, the game was now all even.
15 minutes later, Tunisia took the lead once and for all. In another showing of precise passing, Oussama Haddadi was on the left flank and found Anice Badri a little closer to the box. Haddadi moved forward into the box, receiving the ball back from Badri, and sent the ball across the front of the box to Khazri, who finished it off.
Consequently, Panama showed desperation but couldn’t quite get through as their World Cup came to an end. Tunisia, who were on the same boat, were able to take points home with them.
Belgium, the winner of Group G, will play Japan Monday. England, who came in second, will play Colombia on Tuesday.