England v Belgium - The game no one wants to win

Should either side claim victory in the game, they would join Croatian and Uruguay as one of only three teams to claim nine points from nine in the group stages something that would surely set them up perfectly for a place in the knockout stages.

However, intruigingly, that doesn't seem to be the case, with the results in other groups meaning it may actually be more beneficial for the two sides to finish second.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has already hinted at making a raft of changes, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Eden Hazard reported to be carrying knocks, whilst Gareth Southgate is reportedly keen to rest Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling.

- Potential opponents -

The urge to make changes stems from the fact that winning the group would hand the pair a much more difificult route to final, with them entering the side of the draw that contains four of the top seven sides in the world. Topping the group could see either side face one of Colombia, Senegal or Japan in the last 16, Brazil or Mexico in the quarter-finals and France, Argentina, Uruguay or Portugal in the semis.

That's compared to Sweden or Switzerland in the quarters and Russia, Spain, Croatia or Denmark in the semis should they finish second (the last 16 options are the same as Group H is yet to be decided).

Statistically, the opposition that either side would face by finishing second are "weaker", though in tournament football, we all know that games aren't won on paper.

Meanwhile, Southgate has been key to remind England that they haven't won a World Cup knockout game since 2006, making plotting a path to the final a somewhat arrogant undertaking.

- The yellow card conundrum - 

As if the group wasn't enough of a mess already, a draw in Kaliningrad could see yellow cards decide the group winners, meaning that a point and a host of yellow cards for England's second-stringers may be the most favourable outcome.

The 'Three Lions' currently top the group having claimed one less booking than Belgium in the tournament to date, with both sides having the same record of goals scored, goals against and therefore goal difference. A draw on Thursday night would also see head-to-head nullified, leaving only bookings or heaven forbid, the drawing of straws to decide the group winners.