England to face Colombia but side-step Brazil as a Belgium beauty means it's second place for Three Lions

England will face Colombia in the last 16 next Tuesday night after their collision course with tournament favourites Brazil was diverted.

Belgium’s 1-0 win means it is they who top the group – despite coach Roberto Martinez admitting before the game that winning, and being placed in the more demanding side of the draw, was not what they wanted.

It was perhaps the first and only ever time a World Cup defeat has been met by such an English reaction, a result that could enhance their chances of becoming world champions for the first time since 1966.

AS IT UNFOLDED: England v Belgium

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Making eight changes, Gareth Southgate got – deep down – probably what he hoped for. The cat was out of the bag, and the knowing full-time smiles told the story.

The England manager won’t admit it, but they will by buoyed by their new destination in the more favourable side of the draw. They won’t have to meet favourites Brazil until the final should they both go the distance.

Thanks to Adnan Januzaj’s winner five minutes into the second-half, England will be granted a quarter final with either Switzerland or Sweden – if they put the Colombians to bed next week.

Yes, momentum lost but the reality is that the Three Lions’ adventure would surely have come to a sticky end against the Samba Boys in the last eight. Just too good going forward against an English backline not quit in sync, any thoughts that a positive start in Russia would see to the formidable five-time winners were far-fetched.

Jordan Pickford has hardly had a save to make in the World Cup so far, but that came to a halt inside five minutes. Eric Dier wasn’t close enough and Youri Tielemans tried his luck from distance, the Everton keeper getting strong wrists behind the moving ball.

The England keeper was not so convincing soon after. Michy Batshuayi caused panic in the box and after Pickford’s loose handling, Gary Cahill had to deny his Chelsea team-mate on the line.

The Belgian start poured cold water over the words of their coach. Manager Martinez was quoted as saying “the priority is not to win”, but his team didn’t buy into his words of wisdom.

Predictably, the yellow cards came out. England were ‘behind’ but on top when it came to discipline, and Belgium racked up two first half cautions, meaning if the game ended a draw it was they who would get the easier route to the final as runners up.

England did look lively in the first half without creating. Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jamie Vardy showed endeavour, while Marcus Rashford continued to show why the calls are so loud for him to replace Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, the 19-year-old advanced his cause with a productive evening down England’s right.

It seemed Belgium were getting exactly what they wanted, but it appears nobody told Januzaj.

The former Manchester United prospect bent in a beauty into the top corner after teasing Danny Rose, Pickford given no chance. It was the one moment of quality in the game, and it could change so much.

Another young star highly thought of at Old Trafford should have put England on terms.

It was a bad, bad miss from Rashford. He went to Thibaut Courtois’ stronger left hand side and the Chelsea man got just enough on it.

Rashford’s whipped free-kick lacked direction, but England weren’t sitting back and accepting second place.

The fans at home knew the score. This defeat could end up being a victory in the long run.

England’s attitude was summed up from the bench. Harry Kane not even warming up as they appeared more than happy.

They do find themselves on the better side of the draw but Colombia, winning their last two, will be a tougher test than many English unmoved by defeat will anticipate.

In the group’s other final game, the dead rubber fixture ended with Tunisia beating Panama 2-1.