2018 FIFA WORLD CUP
Fox, 10:00 a.m. ET
Today is the third-place game of the 2018 World Cup, featuring the two teams that just missed the chance to play in tomorrow’s final. So it’s a game played for national and individual pride, and both teams have many reasons to be proud. Belgium started the tournament with a dominant 3-0 rout of Panama, and an equally muscular 5-2 win over Tunisia. Belgium then beat England 1-0, after which it embarked on a series of ultra-dramatic matches. It came from behind to beat Japan 3-2, then stunned the world by beating Brazil 2-1 before succumbing to France 1-0 in the semifinals. Now, in hopes of claiming third place, Belgium has a rematch with England, which had a thrilling run of its own. It beat Tunisia 2-1and trounced Panama 6-1 before losing to Belgium, then righted itself with a heart-stopping penalty kick win over Colombia. Next came a 2-0 victory over Sweden, followed by Wednesday’s dream-crushing 1-2 loss to Croatia. Both teams will be strategizing and playing to win here, with aggressive game plans – and players. Then, tomorrow, it’s France vs. Croatia. One last weekend of astoundingly entertaining World Cup soccer. Or football, depending upon the color of your passport.