Manchester United and Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini said that the 2018 FIFA World Cup knockout stage would be as difficult for his side as for England whom they beat 1-0 in the teams' final group-stage match.
Both Belgium and England secured their passage through to the round of 16, where they will face Japan and Colombia respectively, reports Sputnik news agency.
"The match against England was tough, but I'm happy that we won. There are no weak opponents at the knockout stage, so there was not actually so important whom to face. I do not think that the first round of the knockout stage will be much easier for us than for England. However, they will face (Colombia forward Radamel) Falcao. Everyone knows how dangerous he is in the penalty spot," Fellaini told journalists.
The only goal of the game between Belgium and England was scored in the 51st minute when Belgium midfielder Adnan Januzaj curled a beautiful shot past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15 with the matches being played in 11 cities across Russia.
--IANS
ajb/bg
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app