Tottenham’s Alderweireld targets victory over England

Toby Alderweireld has warned England that Belgium will have nothing but victory in mind in their World Cup Group G showdown in Kaliningrad.

The sides will battle it out for top spot in the pool having both seen off Tunisia and Panama to set up a highly anticipated meeting in which the winners will claim top spot.

They are currently locked together on six points with the same goal difference, having scored and conceded the same number of goals, although England are currently ahead by virtue of fewer bookings.

Amid a debate over whether it would be better to finish first or second, Alderweireld told a press conference: “We are going to try to win the game, because as a footballer you want to win every game.”

The defender, who has started both of his side’s games to date, is one of three Tottenham players in Belgium’s squad alongside Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele, and could be surrounded by more familiar faces if he keeps his place on Thursday with club-mates Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Harry Kane among the England ranks.

Quoted by Belgian Red Devils on Twitter, he said: “Before the World Cup, in the Spurs dressing room, we spoke a lot about the game against England. We are looking forward to it.

“England will be a very good test. I am ready if the coach needs me.”