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When is the World Cup third-place play-off at Russia 2018?

England to face Belgium on Saturday

Marouane Fellaini and Eric Dier
Image: England will face Belgium in the third-place play-off, having previously met in the group stages

England and Belgium lost their World Cup semi-finals, but they still have one more game to play: the third-place play-off.

It may be tough to recover from the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final, but the extra fixture does at least give nations the opportunity to finish on a high.

Here's what you need to know about the match…

Marcus Rashford is dejected after the 2-1 loss to Croatia
Image: Marcus Rashford is dejected after England's 2-1 loss to Croatia

When and where is the third-place play-off?

This year, the third-place play-off will take place at 3pm on Saturday, July 14.

The 65,000-capacity Saint Petersburg Stadium is the venue.

 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group A match between Russia and Egypt at Saint Petersburg Stadium on June 19, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Image: Saint Petersburg Stadium will host the third place play-off

What's the history behind it?

There has been a third-place play-off at World Cups since the second edition in 1934 in Italy, when Germany beat Austria 3-2.

Recent third place play-offs

2014: Holland 3-0 Brazil
2010: Germany 3-2 Uruguay
2006: Germany 3-1 Portugal
2002: Turkey 3-2 South Korea
1998: Croatia 2-1 Holland
1994: Sweden 4-0 Bulgaria
1990: Italy 2-1 England

While the European Championships dispensed with the extra game in 1980, the often relaxed, high-scoring contests remain in the World Cup.

Also See:

(L-R) Brazil's midfielder Oscar, Brazil's defender David Luiz, Brazil's forward Hulk and Brazil's midfielder Fernandinho react at the end of the third place play-off football match between Brazil and Netherlands during the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the National Stadium in Brasilia on July 12, 2014. Netherlands won 3-0. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA
Image: Who says losing a third-place play-off doesn't matter? Brazil ended 2014 in miserable fashion

Some countries place higher importance on finishing third than others - Croatia (1998) and Sweden (1994) celebrated their 'bronze' medal match wins after memorable campaigns but other countries use it as a chance to field fringe players who have been short on game time (France captain, Michel Platini, for instance, didn't play in 1982 or 1986).

And on occasion, the match can sum up the tone for teams, such as Brazil's painful 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands, which rubbed salt into the wounds from their 7-1 thrashing by Germany on home soil in 2014.

Most thirds and fourths

Germany have finished third four times (1934, 1970, 2006, 2010)

Uruguay have finished fourth three times (1954, 1970, 2010)

Anything else to look out for?

Finishing third or fourth may not make much difference in the grand scheme of things, it is important to remember goals scored in the third-place play-off count towards the Golden Boot prize.

Harry Kane has six goals to Romelu Lukaku's four, while Antoine Griezmann has three for France.

Thomas Muller Germany
Image: Thomas Muller clinched the Golden Boot with a goal in the third-place play-off in 2010

With at least three goals scored in every third-place play-off since 1974, there are sure to be opportunities to move up the standings.

In 1990 Salvatore Schillaci scored a penalty four minutes from time against England to seal the Golden Boot prize, while Davor Suker repeated the trick in 1998 and Thomas Muller did the same in 2010.

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