World Cup third place play-off an advert for the Premier League

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-15 00:25:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan
Video PlayerClose

ST. PETERSBURG, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The play-off for third place in the Saint Petersburg Stadium in which Belgium beat England 2-0 on Saturday could almost have been an advert for the English Premier League as England faced Belgium.

Nineteen of the 22 players who started the game currently play in the English top-flight, with 6 at Tottenham Hotspurs: Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier kicked off for England while Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld began with Belgium, who also had Moussa Dembele among their substitutes.

This season's Premier League Champions, Manchester City were represented by five players at kickoff as England fielded Fabian Delph, John Stones and Raheem Sterling, with Kevin de Bruyne and Vincent Kompany beginning for Belgium.

Meanwhile the standout player for Belgium; Eden Hazard is currently with Chelsea, although they may have to fight off the attentions of Real Madrid if they want to keep hold of him past the summer.

With all 23 members of the England squad playing in the English domestic competition, obviously all of the English bench are at Premier League clubs, while as well as Dembele, Belgian substitutes, Marouane Fellaini and Simon Mignolet also play in England, with Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), who replaced West Brom's Nacer Chadli in the first half, Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United) and Michy Batshuyi (Chelsea), all having spent time in England.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105091373242941