England coach Gareth Southgate said on Wednesday (Jun 27) his team was concentrated on winning matches, not plotting a particular route through the World Cup knockout stage, ahead of their Group G showdown with Belgium.
Captain Harry Kane is the top goalscorer at the World Cup with five goals so far and the Tottenham talisman is likely to start against Belgium.
Southgate appears to be gesturing towards saying yes.
Danny Rose, Eric Dier and Gary Cahill are expected to come in, while Jamie Vardy is also in contention up front.
Germany's Group F exit has blown one side of the draw wide open, but Southgate said his side feared no one after making an encouraging start in Russian Federation.
England is now leading the group, but only on the "fair play" tiebreaker, meaning Belgium could still win the group even if the match ends in a draw.
"It's very important for us to protect and give every player the best possible programme to be in the best condition for the knockout games".
"So why we are starting to plot which would be a better venue for our semi-final is beyond me, really".
" It is understood that even the players have been surprised at how many changes Southgate is making for the Belgium game".
The last time England and Belgium met at a World Cup, David Platt volleyed a famous extra-time victor to send Bobby Robson's side into the quarter-finals if Italia 90.
Leading up to the game, Belgium's manager Roberto Martinez said beating England is not a priority.
"Best to focus on tomorrow".
"We have no idea who, when or where we will play in the next round but we are pleased that we're in the next round".
Japan, on four points alongside Senegal, take on Poland in Volgograd while the African team play Colombia, who have three points, in Samara.
"We know what we're up against, we know their players inside out and know what we've got to do".
"Kane can hurt us", he said.
"I want to continue, the form I'm in, but whatever decision the gaffer makes we'll get behind", he said. The most important thing is always winning games, and if my goals help my team win then that's the flawless situation.
"From talking to young people or my own kids, I would be saying those things and I wasn't living it".
"I would rather him on the bench and then coming on for the last 20 minutes, half an hour", Campbell said to Sky Sports News. You do, of course, as a player.
"Can you imagine the confidence England will have then!?"
"From your legs to your mental approach, I think it all factors in". Chile, in the Confederations Cup final past year, didn't qualify for Russian Federation, and now Germany.
That means that the loser between the two sides are rewarded with a more favourable path to the final.
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