World Cup warm up: The permutations ahead of Group G’s conclusion on Thursday

The last two games of the 2018 World Cup group stage will be completed by Group G, with England facing Belgium and Tunisia playing Panama.

Tunisia and Panama will contest a dead rubber match in Saransk having already been eliminated, but there is still plenty to play for in group’s other match.

Panama’s late consolation goal in a 6-1 defeat to England on Sunday has ensured the Three Lions go into their final game against Belgium with identical records.

England will start Wednesday evening’s game top due to the fact they have received one yellow card less than Roberto Martinez’s side.

Finishing first in a World Cup group will more often than not hand you a kinder opening knockout match, but both teams would actually prefer to finish second on this occasion.

Gareth Southgate has dismissed this idea, but Belgium manager Martinez has all but confirmed the Red Devils want to finish runners-up and will field a second string XI.

Team news and odds in our match preview

The country that finishes second will go into the bottom half of the knockout phase draw and avoid the likes of Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and Uruguay.

Both sides are locked on six points after two matches and have scored and conceded the same amount of goals. The winner of this match will finish first and face the runner’s up from Group H.

In the result of a draw, which is highly plausible, first place will be awarded to the team with the best disciplinary record and if both teams are level after that, then FIFA will do a separate draw out of a hat.

It provokes a potentially extraordinary situation where both teams may look to pick up tactical bookings towards the end of the match to give them the advantage in the race to finish second. England have only picked up two bookings compared to Belgium’s three heading into Wednesday’s encounter.