World Cup 2018: 3 key battles that could decide the outcome of England vs Belgium

#2 Belgium's midfield vs England's midfield

Creative compatriots, but will they be given the chance to shine?

This is as close as one could have got to an England vs Rest of the World match in the Premier League.

Belgium are filled with stars who play club football in England, and the English squad is an all-Premier League squad.

Two standout players are Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne who have been the creative sparks for their respective clubs, and the mere thought of them playing alongside each other is a tantalising one.

Both Hazard and de Bruyne are capable of stamping their authority on a game from anywhere on the park and would relish the opportunity to run wild against players they train with week in and week out.

However Roberto Martinez's mind is already set on the knockouts, and he has said that defeating England is not a priority and that it would be unprofessional to risk players (like de Bruyne) who are already on a yellow.

Despite Hazard and De Bruyne expressing a desire to play against England, wholesale changes to the side look likely, with reports suggesting as many as 10 new faces in the Belgian starting XI.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has tended to prefer a 3-3-2-2 system with three midfielders flanked by wing-backs.

However, given the distinctive 'friendly' atmosphere to this game, it is possible that England too rest some of their key players.

How often do you come across a World Cup game where both teams wouldn't necessarily mind a loss (even though they probably won't admit it), but where each player is bidding to impress their manager?

All the men in the middle of the park may well be simultaneously making their tournament debuts and staking their claim for a starting spot in the next game. The result of this game will hinge largely on how these fringe players perform, both as individuals and as a unit.