Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard helped Belgium wrapped up third place over England following a 2-0 win at the 2018 World Cup on Saturday.
The victory assures Belgium’s best-ever finish at a World Cup, topping their fourth-place showing back in 1986.
This is also England’s highest standing at a World Cup since 1990 when they also finished fourth.
Kevin De Bruyne and Hazard ran the show, splitting England’s defence apart at will.
Chances for Romelu Lukaku and another for Meunier came and went and England looked relieved to hear the half-time whistle, which prevented another Belgium corner.
When the teams emerged after the restart, England — with the introduction of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford for Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling — gradually got a foothold on the game.
By the time the final 20 minutes came around, Belgium was hanging on for that bronze medal.
After some intricate passing on the edge of the area, Eric Dier had his effort cleared off the line by Tottenham teammate Toby Alderweireld, before Thibaut Courtois smothered Harry Maguire’s header.
But Belgium still posed a danger and another scintillating counterattack, arguably its best of the tournament so far, ended with Jordan Pickford producing a stunning save to deny Meunier his second.
In the end, it was another counterattack which finished England off and it was the match’s two outstanding players which produced it.
De Bruyne’s threaded pass found Hazard in behind England’s defence and the Chelsea man slotted the ball inside Pickford’s near post.
It was an anticlimactic way for both these teams — who have given their fans some thrilling moments in Russia — to end the World Cup but Belgium leave with a deserved piece of history.
