England appears to have struck gold in the World Cup group draw, landing in Group G alongside Belgium, Tunisia, and Panama. British media outlets have responded with optimism, suggesting the Three Lions have a clear path to the quarterfinals, where they may meet tournament heavyweight Brazil. In a sports landscape where every Bangladesh Cricket Match draws attention for its unpredictability, England’s route through the group stage seems refreshingly straightforward.
According to The Daily Mirror, England should easily advance from Group G, with only Belgium posing a serious challenge. Once through, they would face a team from Group H—which includes Poland, Senegal, Colombia, and Japan. The English press believes the chances of moving beyond the Round of 16 are high. The Daily Mail has already begun speculating about a potential blockbuster quarterfinal between England and Brazil, indicating just how confident local pundits are.
One of the most anticipated group matches will be the clash between England and Belgium. Both teams went unbeaten during World Cup qualifying, and the encounter is being hyped as a Premier League derby. Many of Belgium’s top stars—such as Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Eden Hazard—play for Premier League giants. Their familiarity with England’s playing style adds spice to this matchup.
Belgium was the first European team to qualify for Russia 2018, winning every qualifier. Against Gibraltar alone, they netted an astonishing 15 goals across two matches, averaging 4.3 goals per game. Coach Roberto Martinez has managed Premier League clubs Wigan and Everton, while his assistant, Thierry Henry, is an Arsenal legend. Belgium’s squad is stacked with players who define their Premier League teams: Courtois, Hazard, and Batshuayi were instrumental in Chelsea’s title run; Alderweireld, Vertonghen, and Dembele are key for Spurs; Kompany and De Bruyne form the spine of Manchester City; Fellaini and Lukaku are essential at Manchester United. Other Belgian internationals like Benteke, Mirallas, and Defour also play in England.
Belgium resembles an all-star Premier League lineup, while England ironically looks like the Premier League’s second team. Many fans joke that the England vs. Belgium match is a clash of the Premier League All-Stars versus the Premier League Reserves. Despite Belgium’s stacked squad, England boasts a dominant record in head-to-head meetings. The Three Lions have not lost to Belgium in 81 years. Out of their last 21 meetings, England has lost only once, back in 1936 in a narrow 3-2 defeat.
In World Cup history, the two sides have met twice. In 1954, they drew 4-4 in a thrilling group stage game, and in 1990, England edged out Belgium 1-0 in the Round of 16. The warm-up matches tell a similar story—England leads with 14 wins, 3 draws, and only 1 loss in 18 friendlies. Their most recent match was in 2012 when Danny Welbeck scored his debut international goal off an assist from Ashley Young, securing a 1-0 win.
As anticipation builds toward the World Cup, fans who follow every Bangladesh Cricket Match for high-stakes action may find similar drama in this football showdown. England’s campaign carries both promise and pressure, and with a potential clash against Brazil looming, the world will be watching every step—just as closely as they watch every Bangladesh Cricket Match unfold.