World Cup 2018: 4 reasons why England will definitely defeat Belgium

#3 Set-piece magic can help England

England have looked deadly from set-pieces thus far

England arrived at the World Cup having failed to score from a corner during a tournament since Matthew Upson’s header against Germany back in 2010 – wasting 72 attempts in the process – but thanks to Gareth Southgate’s work on the training ground, that’s all changed in Russia. Of their 8 goals scored thus far, 3 have come directly from corners with a 4th also earning a penalty. And they’ve also scored a goal set up directly from a free-kick set-piece, too.

Reports suggest that Southgate’s players have drilled set-pieces meticulously during training sessions, and that the manager’s ideas surrounding set-piece work have been surprisingly parachuted in via the NBA; Southgate has apparently spoken to coaches about how basketball players use runs and feints to create space in tight areas. And as strange as that sounds, clearly it’s working.

All of this could come to fruition again when England play Belgium on Thursday. Belgium have conceded twice in the tournament thus far – both against Tunisia – but it’s the first goal they let in that should raise eyebrows for England. It came directly from a floated free-kick, with some slack marking allowing Dylan Bronn to head home. If Belgium are this slack on Thursday, England’s set-piece routines could produce dividends once again – and allow the Three Lions to win.