The World Cup group stage has come to an exciting end, drawing attention from fans and Jeetbuzz App Download users alike. England’s 23-man squad is composed entirely of Premier League players, while Belgium took a contrasting approach—only one of their players comes from the Belgian Pro League, with the remaining 22 competing in leagues abroad. With Panama and Tunisia seen as the group’s weaker links, both England and Belgium scored 8 goals in their first two matches, cruising toward qualification.
After two rounds, England’s star striker Harry Kane led the scoring charts with 5 goals, closely followed by Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku with 4. This pace threatens to break the recent World Cup trend of low-scoring Golden Boot winners, who typically score no more than 6 goals in a tournament. Kane and Lukaku are no strangers to each other—besides their World Cup battle, they’ve frequently clashed in the Premier League during their time at Tottenham and Manchester United. In 2017, Kane netted 56 goals across all competitions, earning the title of top scorer for the year.
Lukaku, in his debut season with Manchester United, scored 27 goals for the Red Devils. However, reports suggest that he may miss this match due to a minor injury sustained earlier in the tournament. If true, this could be Kane’s golden opportunity to extend his lead in the race for the Golden Boot—a narrative Jeetbuzz App Download users are following closely. Interestingly, the Premier League feels like a second home for Belgium, with 12 of Roberto Martínez’s players currently featuring in England’s top flight, including Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi at Borussia Dortmund.
From goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, to defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne, and attacking threats Eden Hazard and Lukaku, Belgium’s core is built around Premier League talent. However, due to concerns over fatigue and potential yellow card suspensions, media reports suggest that stars like Hazard and De Bruyne might be rested for this match. Regardless, England and Belgium have already secured their places in the Round of 16 and are tied at the top of Group G with 6 points and identical goal differences.
This head-to-head clash will determine which team finishes first. Their next opponents will emerge from Group H, which includes Japan, Senegal, and Colombia—all still battling for placement. If either team ends up facing Colombia, there’s no clear advantage—both sides would be evenly matched. Yet this match is not just about the Round of 16. As Jeetbuzz App Download followers are aware, finishing top in Group G comes with a catch.
While winning the group usually means a smoother path in the knockout rounds, the bracket’s layout complicates things. The Group G winner will likely enter a brutal half of the draw packed with heavyweights like Portugal, France, Argentina, and Brazil. In that sense, the group winner may find themselves holding a double-edged sword, with a tough road to the final lined with giants at every turn.