Alderweireld's Got Your Back

63/64 through the World Cup. Since 2002 the third place playoff has been one of the most exciting games to watch a World Cup averaging almost 4 goals a game. This year's third place matchup was exciting to watch, but with fewer goals. Part of that was thanks to Belgian defender Toby Alderweirald who cleared an Eric Dier shot off the line when he chipped it over Thibaut Courtois. England's belief that football was finally coming home with a World Cup trophy has ended without so much as a third place medal. Onto the scores.

Belgium 2:0 England

Thomas Meunier 4' 1-0

Eden Hazard 82' 2-0

			Belgium		vs	England
	Result	Points	L61	Score	Points	L62	Score	Points	Total
Artifex			France	1	0	Argentina	3	0	0
Fortuitous			Croatia	0	0	Iceland	5	0	0
Historicus			Peru	1	0	Brazil	3	0	0
IoannesNix			Nigeria	2	2	Portugal	1	0	2
Musicus			France	2	2	Argentina	2	0	2
Praeceptor			Belgium	1	0	Spain	3	0	0
Scriptor			France	2	2	Spain	1	0	2

Artifex as the higher seed picked Belgium. Here's how she fared.

Belgium
Goal	Meunier	15
Assist	Chadli	11
Saves	Courtois	21
Goal	Hazard	10
Assist	De Bruyne	3
Yellow Card	Witzel	-3
	Total	57

Historicus was left with England. Here's how he fared.

England
Saves	Pickford	3
Yellow Card	Stones	-2
Yellow Card	Maguire	-3
	Total	0

Here are how both final matches stand at the midway point of the weekend. 

Praeceptor 0-0	Champion	2-2 Scriptor
Historicus 0-0	3rd Place	57-0 Artifex

Unfortunately, our 3rd Place matchup is effectively decided as Historicus can only make up 2 points on Artifex. Tomorrow's match will still count towards total points as well as the final Oracle Points standings.

Scriptor currently holds a 2 point lead over Praeceptor, but as Belgium has shown, points can be accumulated quickly.

Today's Disciplinary Official is England's Manager Gareth Southgate.

Southgate missed his penalty kick in the 1996 European Cup Semifinals which saw Germany advance ahead of England to the final. Since then, he finished out his playing career, started a managerial career that lead to him coaching at the youth levels, and ultimately heading the senior squad to not only being a likeable squad, but also one of the best playing sides at this World Cup. He surely would have liked to brought home some more pride for his countrymen and women, but will look to build on the success he had. Losing your last two matches is not how you want to be remembered at the World Cup, but England's fourth place finish will certainly be memorable. Graciously, he has seen no indication that any foul play has been committed in today's match. No cards. No suspensions. 

The Grand Salmon Alpaca