Belgium, who have played well since the start of the World Cup in Russia, have been knocked out in the semi-finals. After 32 years, coach Roberto Martinez's men failed to reach the final stage after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, losing 1-0 to France.
As a result, Belgian coach Roberto Martinez is trying to strengthen the disappointed team for the third place match.
England will face Belgium in the third place match in St Petersburg next Sunday (July 14). Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said, 'Our dream was to play the World Cup final. But that is not possible anymore. But now we have to finish the World Cup well. We have a great opportunity to finish third. We want to win the third place match.'
Belgium is a team that has caused a surprise in the current World Cup. Belgium was not in the list of favorites before the start of the World Cup despite being in third place in the FIFA ranking. However, they showed surprise when they came to play in the World Cup. They won all the matches in the group stage and reached the last sixteen with 100% success. Belgium defeated Panama, Tunisia and England in the group stage.
Belgium were invincible in the last sixteen as well. They reached the semi-finals of the World Cup after 32 years after losing five-time champions Brazil. Belgium fought against France there. But in the 51st minute of the match, Belgium lost the match with the only goal scored by the French defender Samuel Umtiti. Belgium's dream of playing in the final was broken there.
Despite not reaching the finals, Belgium's coach Martinez expressed his determination to finish the World Cup with third place. He said, 'We have to forget the memory of the semi-final. So that we can be third in this World Cup. Doing so would be Belgium's best success in World Cup history. Because in 1986 we reached the first semi-final. Even that time the team failed to reach the final. Besides, we lost in the third place match as well. But this time we want to finish the World Cup as third.
