Chelsea players unlikely to feature or star in third place match

The World Cup’s third place match is one of the strangest, most arcane, and most outdated things in football. Chelsea players are unlikely to play or star.

France versus Belgium was the match of the round in the semifinals. France proved victorious though Belgium decided to attempt the moral high ground argument. The attempt failed and they are still forced to play the third place match.

England versus Croatia was supposed to be decided beforehand. Croatia had played two extra time matches in a row and could not possibly have had the legs to win. England started strong, but the equalizer energized Croatia through yet another extra time. England was gutted, but proud and still has the third place match to look forward to.

So now Belgium and England will face off in a match that neither really wants to take part in. But their attitudes will be radically different. Belgium sees the match as below them after their loss to France. England will see it as a consolation prize that could detract from their story. That will mean Chelsea players will be unlikely to star or even feature.

Roberto Martinez will trot out his best XI. This match will mean more to him than it will any Belgian player. Do not expect Eden Hazard to care. He will go into his autopilot mode where he does little to nothing important. It will be a cool down for the Belgian captain.

Thibaut Courtois will care about the clean sheet but little else. He will not actively miss saves but he will not praise England if Belgium loses. If anything, he will say the truth; Belgium does not care whether they are third or fourth.

Gareth Southgate is likely to see the match as a chance to give minutes to the bit part players. What England achieved was not just due to a team of 11 but of 23. This is his chance to thank some of the other players. And the English players will care. They have already achieved more than they thought possible. Why not third?

Though Southgate will probably rotate, it is unlikely that it will be a mass of changes. At most, he might make three or four changes for some of the more tired players who do not care for the third place match.

For Chelsea, that could mean Gary Cahill or Ruben Loftus-Cheek playing. But just as it is likely that Southgate will rotate, it is also likely that he decides to send his best XI out for yet another match. England already has the better attitude heading into the match. That may be enough to overcome any tired legs.

So Chelsea fans will not miss much if they skip the third place match. Belgium will not care enough to play their hearts out and England will, but it is unknown how they will lineup.

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What this speaks more to is that no one really wants the third place match. The final was the prize and failing at that, most players just want to go home and rest before the next season. FIFA is not going to do away with the match anytime soon, however, and that leaves many stuck with a match that is under card to the big show.