Finishing third is a minimum for us, says Meunier

The two countries meet in the third place playoff in St Petersburg on Saturday and the defender is expected to be back in the line-up after missing the 0-1 semi-final defeat by France on Tuesday because of suspension. 

“We are better than England. Winning the match is not an obligation but something we want to do. Third place is a minimum for us,” he said during a press conference at the team’s training base in Moscow.

“We beat England in the group phase and so we can do it again.” Both countries rested regulars for the Group G match in Kaliningrad on June 28 which Belgium won 1-0. The two teams had already secured qualification for the round of 16 before that encounter.

“We want third place for ourselves on a personal level, for those whose supported us over the last years and for all the work we did in qualifiers. We have a fantastic squad and to finish on the podium would be something.” Meunier admitted Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ of players had likely lost their last chance at World Cup glory after their 0-1 loss in the last four.

“This group could still do something in two years,” he said in a reference to the 2020 European Championship, “but in four years’ time, many will have left.” “But there are a lot of exciting youngsters coming through who might continue our expedition,” the Paris St Germain player added.