On the evening of July 14, 2018, at Saint Petersburg Stadium.
A subtle emotion permeated the air, neither as suffocating as the pinnacle clash of a final nor as carefree as a group stage match. This was the World Cup third-place playoff.
The England Team lost to Croatia, and Belgium lost to France Team. The third-place match is often jokingly referred to as the losers' final.
Nevertheless, for England and Belgium, this was equally a crucial battle to prove themselves and defend their honor. Players from both teams stepped onto the field, with red and white and red and black flags intertwining and fluttering in the stands. The fans' songs were still loud, but with less of the final's frenzy and more anticipation for their star players' performances.
For England fans, the biggest focus was undoubtedly their #17 supernova, Oliver. Could he continue his scoring momentum in this match and undeniably secure the World Cup Golden Boot?
Although he was currently at the top of the scorer list, leading Mbappé by two goals, the final had not yet been played. If Mbappé were to deliver an exceptional performance in the final, Oliver's Golden Boot would still not be secure.
As for Belgium fans, they were looking forward to the golden generation stars like De Bruyne, Hazard, and Lukaku. They hoped these players could display brilliant football in their last match of the tournament, bringing a relatively satisfactory end to their 2018 World Cup journey.
Southgate stood on the sideline, his expression focused. The lesson of the 0-1 loss to Belgium in the group stage was still fresh in his mind. That defeat exposed the England midfield's lack of control when facing technical opponents and the disparity in their attack-defense transition efficiency. This time, he was determined to make adjustments.
Southgate did not make drastic changes to the starting lineup; Kane, Rashford, and Oliver formed the attacking trident, while Henderson, Alli, and Dier anchored the midfield.
But on the tactical board, he made two key subtle adjustments:
First was the midfield fine-tuning. Southgate demanded that Henderson and Dier, when defending, focus more on blocking De Bruyne and Hazard's passing lanes, compressing their operating space, and not hesitating to use physical challenges and tactical fouls to disrupt Belgium's attacking rhythm. Alli was also given more tasks to push forward and participate in the attack, especially by utilizing the half-spaces left open after Oliver and Sterling stretched the width.
The next point was even more crucial.
Southgate explicitly told Oliver that as long as he was within shooting range and felt the opportunity was right, he should not hesitate and shoot boldly. He encouraged Oliver to cut inside more often to seek shooting opportunities or to switch positions more flexibly with Kane, maximizing the combination of his finishing ability and Kane's pivot role. This was absolute trust in Oliver's ability and a lesson Southgate learned from the semifinal defeat.
In a stalemate, it is indeed necessary for star players to rely on individual ability to break the deadlock.
Now that the Three Lions finally had a young man who could step up, they had to give him the right to fire. The match began with both sides playing relatively openly.
Belgium, with top creative midfielders like De Bruyne and Hazard, maintained fluid ball control and passing. England, relying on the speed of Oliver and Rashford and Kane's ability to break defensive lines, frequently attacked Belgium's defense.
Martínez had clearly studied England.
He assigned the experienced center-back duo of Alderweireld and Kompany to specifically mark Kane, while also instructing Meunier and Chadli to pay attention to blocking Oliver's cutting-inside lanes.
In the first half, the game was intense but lacked many clear-cut chances. Belgium created a few threats through De Bruyne's precise long passes and through balls, but the England backline, led by Maguire and Stones, held firm under pressure.
For England, Oliver was very active. Several of his attempts to cut inside and shoot were blocked or went wide, but the attacking desire and decisive shooting he displayed were exactly what Southgate wanted to see.
The turning point of the match occurred in the 32nd minute. England won a throw-in on the right side of midfield, and Trippier threw the ball powerfully to Alli, who dropped back to receive it. Alli, with his back to the defender, did not choose to control the ball and turn. Instead, he cleverly flicked it with his heel. The ball passed through the defender's legs and rolled towards the center.
This unexpected pass disrupted Belgium's defensive positioning. The ball rolled to a spot slightly to the right of the top of the penalty arc.
Just then, a red figure surged forward like an arrow released from a bow. Oliver sprinted forward to meet the ball, with no time for adjustment. From nearly 30 meters out, facing Belgium's defensive midfielder Witsel, who was rushing to cover, Oliver firmly planted his left foot as his standing leg, tilted his body slightly, and swung his right leg with full force like a whip.
The inside of his instep struck the lower-middle part of the ball with immense power.
"Boom!"
This goal was the kind of fire Southgate wanted. The ball, like a cannonball, with intense spin and an almost perfect arc, whistled directly into the top-left corner of the goal. Courtois reacted swiftly, leaping into the air, his long arms stretched to their limit.
But the ball's trajectory was too tricky, and its power too fierce. It grazed Courtois' fingertips, violently hitting the inside of the intersection of the crossbar and post, then crashing heavily into the net.
1-0!
This was an absolute worldie. The entire Saint Petersburg Stadium instantly erupted. Oliver gave a big thumbs-up to Alli, his face filled with ecstasy and relief. His teammates swarmed him, hugging him tightly. Kane vigorously ruffled his hair, and Maguire excitedly shouted in his ear.
"Ollie! Third one this year, eh, mate. Your third Golden Boot is absolutely secured!!"
It perfectly showcased Oliver's top-tier finishing ability, which, after replicating Kane's shooting attributes, combined power, technique, angle, and determination. In his final dance of this World Cup, Oliver proved, in the most shocking way, that he deserved the supreme individual honor that was about to be his.
In the second half, with Belgium a goal down, they intensified their attacks. De Bruyne and Hazard began to seek more combinations, trying to tear open England's defense. Martínez replaced the underperforming Chadli with Mertens to add more attacking dynamism.
England, on the other hand, played more steadily. Southgate's tactical adjustments began to show results. Henderson and Dier were very active in midfield with their interceptions and sweeping, effectively limiting De Bruyne's passing space. Alli frequently pushed forward, linking up with Kane and Oliver.
In the 67th minute, England's patient passing paid off.
England exchanged passes on the left wing, and Sterling played the ball back to the overlapping Rose. Rose, without stopping the ball, directly crossed with his left foot. The ball drew a low, flat arc, flying towards the front of the six-yard box. Kane, tightly marked by Alderweireld, leaped to challenge for the header. Although he didn't connect with the ball, his interference hindered Belgium's goalkeeper Courtois's salida.
The ball sailed over Kane's head, landing near the six-yard line. At this moment, a figure quickly appeared in the most dangerous position: Henderson! The Liverpool captain displayed the top midfielder's instinct for late runs into the box. As the ball dropped, unmarked, he calmly pushed a low shot with the inside of his right foot. The ball rolled past Courtois and into the far corner of the goal.
2-0!
England extended their lead. This goal virtually sealed the victory, and the England bench erupted in cheers. Two goals down, Belgium did not give up. Their golden generation was still trying.
In the 82nd minute, Belgium executed a brilliant combination on the left side of the attacking third. Mertens and Hazard exchanged quick one-two passes before breaking into the left side of the penalty area. Hazard, near the byline, faced Walker's defense, performed a clever stop-and-go, creating a sliver of space, and then curled a shot with his signature left foot. The ball curved past Walker and goalkeeper Pickford's outstretched fingers, precisely flying into the far corner of the goal.
2-1!
Hazard pulled one back for Belgium. This goal showcased his world-class individual ability. In the final stages of the match, Belgium launched a last-ditch offensive. De Bruyne's long-range shot and Lukaku's header put immense pressure on England's defense. But Southgate promptly brought on Dier and Vardy to strengthen defensive solidity. Maguire and Stones formed an impenetrable wall in the penalty area, defusing danger time and again. Pickford also made crucial saves, ensuring the goal remained safe.
As injury time ticked away, the roar of Belgium fans grew louder, but the England players stood united.
When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the score was set at 2-1. The England Team defeated Belgium. And secured third place in the 2018 Russia World Cup. The England players, tired but exhilarated, embraced each other, celebrating this hard-earned bronze medal.
Southgate high-fived and hugged every player.
In the stands, the England fans' song began again, the melody of "Football's Coming Home" filled with satisfaction and pride. Although they failed to reach the final and lift the trophy, third place was already the England Team's best World Cup performance since winning in 1966. These young men had already made history.
After the match, online discussions remained heated. Regarding the England Team's overall performance, fans had mixed opinions:
"Third place for England is not bad, after all, their strength isn't at the level to contend for the championship yet; the midfield setup is too poor."
"Yeah, the midfield is still a weakness; they struggle against technical midfields like France and Croatia."
"Southgate did a good job; the Three Lions have a promising future."
"Kane seemed a bit tired in the last few games, did he lose his shooting boots?"
"I also want to ask, did Ollie steal Kane's shooting boots?"
However, the evaluation of Oliver showed astonishing consistency:
"Ollie, the absolute MVP of this tournament! That worldie was so cool! Golden Boot is secure!"
"8 goals in 7 games! My God, this is definitely the World Cup Golden Boot! He's only 18 now! England's frontline is set for the next decade!"
"Although England lost, Oliver won! He won his third individual Golden Boot, and he won the future!"
"Above, the final hasn't started yet, and there's still Mbappé, so Oliver's Golden Boot still has a tiny bit of suspense."
"Ollie, next season, lead Arsenal to continue dominating the Premier League!"
"Although the England Team lost, Oliver won."
This seemingly contradictory yet deeply meaningful statement became the most incisive summary in post-match fan comments. It conveyed the fans' clear understanding that the team's overall strength was still lacking, and it expressed their extremely high recognition and infinite anticipation for Oliver's extraordinary performance in this World Cup.
With 8 goals, he surpassed Mbappé, who currently had 5 goals, and Griezmann, Lukaku, and others, who had 4 goals. Unless Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the final, he wouldn't be able to snatch this Golden Boot.
The day after the third-place match, on July 15, 2018, Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow hosted the final showdown.
France Team against Croatia.
The course and outcome of this match once again confirmed France Team's status as the team with the strongest overall strength in this tournament. Deschamps' team played efficiently and ruthlessly. Griezmann's free-kick led to Mandzukic's own goal, Perišić equalized, but Griezmann then converted a penalty to regain the lead.
In the second half, France Team's youthful vitality fully erupted. Pogba scored with a long-range shot, and Mbappé, in the 65th minute, sealed the score at 4-1 with a thunderous long-range strike.
Although Mandzukic pulled one back due to Lloris's error, it was too late to change the outcome. Ultimately, France Team defeated a resilient but utterly exhausted Croatia 4-2. They lifted the World Cup trophy again after 20 years.
This was France Team's second World Cup trophy. The Gallic Roosters were crowned on Russian soil. As the France Team players celebrated wildly amidst a shower of confetti, the World Cup stage slowly drew to a close. However, the final selection for individual honors had just begun.
Who would win awards like Best Player, Golden Boot, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Young Player became the focus of heated discussions among global fans and media. The smoke of the Russia World Cup gradually dissipated, but the name Oliver, like the thunderous worldie he scored against Belgium, was deeply etched into the 2018 World Cup and into the hearts of fans worldwide.
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