‘It’s been an exhilarating ride’: England takes stock after Belgium earn World Cup bronze

After a tournament which promised so much, England are heading home from the World Cup empty-handed as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard were enough to secure a third-placed finish for the Red Devils.

Gareth Southgate’s side must be content with equaling the efforts of Sir Bobby Robson’s side who finished in fourth spot at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, making their efforts in Russia the joint second-best achievement of any English side at football’s most prestigious tournament.

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In the end though, Belgium earned their second win over England in this tournament, bettering the 1-0 victory they recorded in the group stages. Roberto Martinez’s side recorded their best ever World Cup result, going one better than the fourth place they finished in the 1986 event in Mexico.

The fourth-placed finish will leave some English fans with something of a sour taste after the waves of ‘It’s Coming Home’ euphoria which had gripped the country in the last week but, as many people have pointed out on social media, they can be more than proud of their achievements at Russia 2018.