Belgium tops England, and Group G at World Cup

Belgium’s Adnan Januzaj celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the group G match between England and Belgium at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, Thursday, June 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

MOSCOW  — Adnan Januzaj’s curling strike sent Belgium into the last 16 as group winners by sealing a 1-0 victory over England and putting his team on a potentially tougher path to the final.

A night of little tension or attacking intent seemed just what the England and Belgium coaches desired after making a combined 17 changes to their starting lineups to rest players for the knockout phase.

Entering the game on identical points and goals records — after each opening with two successive wins — England had the edge on its fair play record at the top of Group G.

Losing top spot, with World Cup top-scorer Harry Kane rested, gives England a last-16 game against Colombia on Tuesday in Moscow on the side of the draw featuring Spain, Russia, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.

Belgium faces Group H winner Japan on Monday and a win there would mean a quarterfinal against Brazil or Mexico.