England vs Belgium, World Cup 2018: When and where in Russia is the Group G match, what time does it start and what TV channel is it on?
What is it?
England's third and final Group G match of the 2018 World Cup in Russia - and by far and away their most difficult.
Gareth Southgate's men will hope to have got their campaign off to a winning start in their opening two matches, against Tunisia and Panama, meaning qualification for the next round will be assured and the only thing to be decided is who finishes top - England or Belgium.
The Three Lions are attempting to break a cycle of heartache and humiliation at major tournaments that has plunged the birthplace of football to its lowest ebb.
A loss to Iceland in the last 16 of the 2016 European Championship was perhaps the ultimate embarrassment. Or maybe that came when England endured their shortest World Cup campaign two years earlier - only in contention for eight days.
Before that, there were penalty shoot-out losses in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012. And before that, who could forget Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal that denied England in the World Cup semi-finals in 1986?
It's no surprise that the nation's expectations are low heading to Russia. England may have won the 1966 World Cup, but have only reached the semi-finals of a tournament twice since then.
When is it?
Thursday, June 28, 2018.
Where is it?
Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad.
What time is kick-off?
7pm BST.
What TV channel is it on?
ITV.
Latest team news
England
Gareth Southgate has named a bold World Cup squad focused on promise rather than experience.
Uncapped Trent Alexander-Arnold is celebrating a maiden England call-up but Adam Lallana, Joe Hart and Jack Wilshere miss out.
After months of speculation, scrutiny and conjecture, the 23 men charged with bringing the country success in Russia were revealed on Wednesday afternoon, along with the five-strong stand-by list for the tournament.
England's joint second-most capped goalkeeper Hart was excluded from both lists as were Arsenal midfielder Wilshere and Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand - but Lallana provided the biggest shock.
While the Liverpool attacking midfielder has not started a Premier League match since New Year's Day, he is a favourite of Southgate. However, his lack of fitness means he has to settle with a stand-by place alongside Jake Livermore, Tom Heaton, James Tarkowski and Lewis Cook.
Gary Cahill received a surprise reprieve having been excluded from March's squad - the only member of the group to have reached a half-century of caps.
But the most striking inclusion is uncapped teenager Alexander-Arnold.
An impressive performer in Liverpool's run to the Champions League final, the 19-year-old briefly trained with Southgate's side in March and has now been named in the senior squad for the first time.
The other uncapped squad member is Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, having been selected ahead of 75-cap Hart to take the third spot behind Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek was rewarded for his fine form and versatile Fabian Delph came in after winning the title at Manchester City, despite last playing for his country in November 2015.
Ashley Young, rejuvenated at Manchester United, joined Danny Rose as left-back options instead of Bertrand, who will feel hard done by considering he played a key role for Southgate.
Belgium
Michy Batshuayi, having scored nine goals in 14 games during a terrific loan spell at Dortmund, left the field on a stretcher on April 15 after sustaining an ankle injury during the derby defeat by Schalke that has ended his season but not his World Cup chances, even if they are now very slim indeed.
Vincent Kompany's return to form and fitness has removed Roberto Martínez's most long-standing doubt, though Christian Benteke's travails in front of goal for Crystal Palace had put his chances of a squad place as a back-up to Romelu Lukaku at serious risk until Batshuayi's injury.
What do we know about the Belgium team?
Belgium have all the ingredients for success at the World Cup.
Romelu Lukaku leads the attack, supported by the creative genius of Eden Hazard and with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield. Thibaut Courtois is in goal.
But for all the exceptional talent, Belgium keep underwhelming at major tournaments, only reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 World Cup and 2016 European Championship.
There are doubts throughout the team. Center-back Vincent Kompany spends much of his time in the treatment room at Manchester City. Too many Belgian players have morphed into glorified benchwarmers these days after falling out of favor, including Toby Alderweireld at Tottenham, Thomas Meunier at Paris Saint-Germain and Thomas Vermaelen at Barcelona.
Axel Witsel and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco do have a lock on their starting position for their clubs, but in the modest Chinese league.
It all makes the road to World Cup success seem far from clear for Fifa's third-ranked team.
Here's a closer look at the Belgium team:
Coach
It took a loss to Wales at the 2016 European Championship for Belgium to oust underachieving coach Marc Wilmots and turn to Roberto Martinez, a Spanish coach with Premier League experience.
Martinez led Belgium to the top of their qualifying group with an unbeaten record. But it's unclear how a coach who spent most of his time with teams like Wigan, Swansea and Everton will endure at a World Cup.
At least he has already won a trophy, taking unheralded Wigan to the FA Cup title by beating Manchester City in 2013.
Goalkeepers
Having Courtois in goal has made Belgium the envy of world football.
Then came the night in March at Barcelona when Lionel Messi beat Courtois twice with shots through the legs to open up the Chelsea goalkeeper to international ridicule for the first time. Courtois will need to banish any self-doubt in Russia.
When it comes to doubt, there is plenty of uncertainty about back-up Simon Mignolet, who has been banished to the bench at Liverpool.
Defenders
Previously known for their dour defensive prowess, Belgium added flair with Kompany, Alderweireld, Meunier and Jan Vertonghen.
Going into the World Cup, though, only Vertonghen inspires confidence and gets all the playing time he wants at Tottenham.
Every time the 32-year-old Kompany takes the field for Belgium, onlookers fear he could come down with another injury.
Midfielders
This department is where Belgium's genius resides, with De Bruyne and Hazard dazzling with sparkling moves and piercing passes. Even if their synergy on the field has not been perfect, Martinez has been getting close enough.
Now the coach has to figure out what to do with Radja Nainggolan, whose skillful doggedness helped take Roma past Barcelona in the Champions League.
Martinez, though, has fallen out with Nainggolan and criticised his sometimes raucous off-field behavior. It means Nainggolan is still not an automatic pick to make it to Russia.
Forwards
The 24-year-old Lukaku is already Belgium's all-time top scorer with 33 goals.
All hope is invested in Lukaku staying fit and in form for the World Cup after an impressive first season leading the Manchester United attack, with De Bruyne and Hazard in support.
Martinez can also turn to Dries Mertens, the deft, diminutive winger-striker who has been instrumental in Napoli's pursuit of the Serie A title.
Michy Batshuayi was just hitting form with Dortmund when he injured his ankle in early April and is racing to be fit for Russia.
What are they saying?
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez on facing England in Russia:
"As they say, football is a way of living and I lived almost 21 years in the British game and in England.
"It's a very special group. It's the World Cup and it's about preparation now with a challenging draw.
"I think it is the most demanding group in terms of the travelling arrangements.
"It is a game (against England) where there are no secrets - no secrets about Belgium from England or for us about the England team.
"But it was a very good draw in terms of the group - very diverse to be playing Panama who are going to be bringing the excitement of playing in the World Cup for the first time after an incredible qualification in which they knocked the United States out of the World Cup. Then Tunisia with their style bring all the ingredients to have a very diverse group."
Latest Group G table
What are the odds?
England to win 7/4
Draw 2/1
Belgium to win 6/4
What's our prediction?
Belgium's current crop have been dubbed the "Golden Generation", with the likes of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois among their ranks. Plenty of Roberto Martinez's team ply their trade in the Premier League too, and that experience could prove crucial.
Predicted score: England 0 Belgium 1.
