World Cup 2018: 6 Reasons why England and Belgium finally look like Contenders 

The Tactics

Gareth Southgate(L) and Roberto Martinez(R) employ fairly similar tactics

Both teams have the same 3-4-3 base with a slight tweak. While England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, usually goes with a 3-1-4-2, Belgium’s Roberto Martinez goes with a 3-4-2-1.

Both managers like their teams to express themselves, overlap with wingbacks and load midfield which giving enough freedom to the frontmen. With Argentina, Germany and France all suffering from finding the right template, it seems England and Belgium have what it takes to stick to their plan and make it work.

Both teams cancelled each other out in their clash until Belgium finally found cracks in England’s defence.

When on song, both sides can generate a lot of excitement and it will be interesting to see how they do against more competitive sides than Tunisia and Panama. Especially if their backs are against the wall.