England finished their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in St Petersburg in the World Cup third place play-off.

Thomas Meunier scored Belgium’s opener in the fourth minute and Eden Hazard added a late second in what was a fairly comfortable victory for Roberto Martinez’s team.

Here are five things we learned:

Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings <b>Belgium:</b> Thibaut Courtois - 7 out of 10 Had little to do and was most threatened by his own player’s touch on a free kick that he gathered with minimal fuss AP Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Toby Alderweireld - 7 out of 10 A brilliant off the line clearance denied England an equaliser before Belgium’s second. Solid when called upon after little to do in the rest of the match Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Vincent Kompany - 7 out of 10 Had little to do and coped well with the pace of Raheem Sterling that has given many a defence problems this tournament AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Jan Vertonghen - 7 out of 10 Other than a shaky moment that lacked communication at an England set piece, he had little to do against a tired Harry Kane. AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Thomas Meunier - 8 out of 10 A real threat for Belgium going down the right flank and got on the scoresheet for the opener. He was a big miss for Belgium in their semi-final REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Axel Witsel - 7 out of 10 A physical presence in midfield that allowed time and space for De Bruyne. An impressive World Cup for a player plying his trade in China REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Youri Tielemans - 7 out of 10 An exciting young talent that caused England’s midfield all kinds of problems. A star of the future gaining valuable experience on the world stage REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Nacer Chadli - 7 out of 10 Made a bright start to the game and assisted Thomas Meunier’s opener, before picking up a hamstring injury, the latest in a string that have held back his career Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Kevin De Bruyne - 8 out of 10 A constant thorn in England’s side and given far too much space to pull the strings, created Meunier’s opener and looked a class above EPA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Eden Hazard - 8 out of 10 His pace and power caused problems, and were it not for a flying block from John Stones, he could have easily found the net in the first half, and eventually did in the second AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Romelu Lukaku - 6 out of 10 Had some chances to increase the scoreline for his side but was one touch away from a goal. A bit like Kane has struggled towards the end of the tournament Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings <b>England:</b> Jordan Pickford - 7 out of 10 Looked assured for the most part, but Meunier’s shinned effort did take a touch off of the ‘keepers leg, leaving him wishing he’d moved the slightest touch to the left. Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Phil Jones - 6 out of 10 The weaker of the defenders and less comfortable on the ball. Contributed to the first goal by committing too early and leaving his teammates with a huge area to mark AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings John Stones - 7 out of 10 Assured on the ball and confident Stones has had a World Cup that reasserts his talent and his place at a leading Premier league club EPA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Maguire - 7 out of 10 Solid in defence and at time played well coming into midfield. He had a couple of half-chances from free kicks and always won his headers, looking for someone to capitalise on the knock downs AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Kieran Trippier - 8 out of 10 Offered great deliveries from set pieces once again, and despite the quality of Belgium, looked up to the task. Lacked the energy of his teammates to react to his deliveries PA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Eric Dier - 6 out of 10 Left with a lot to do in midfield against De Bruyne and co, and had an awful start, but did improve towards the end of the game and managed to find more balance in his play REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Fabian Delph - 6 out of 10 Found himself with some space in midfield going forward and scuffed a couple of shots – not his strong point. The struggled to help Dier in a holding role leaving De Bruyne with acres of space REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Danny Rose - 6 out of 10 Looked a shadow of his form last season, and was rightly second choice compared to Ashley Young this tournament. Replaced at half-time. AP Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7 out of 10 The dangerman for England, he offered pace, trickery and a fearlessness to beat his man. On this performance he should be given a chance to fulfil his potential at Chelsea Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Raheem Sterling - 6 out of 10 Despite his impressive movement and pace, he took too long on the ball and was replaced at half-time AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Kane - 6 out of 10 Looked short of pace and energy and had a really good chance in the first half. Looks to have ran out of steam but can look back on a successful World Cup Getty Images

Midfield troubles

You can read too much into a team sheet, especially one before a World Cup third-place play-off. Belgium named their strongest team: are they taking this too seriously? England made five changes: are they taking this seriously enough? But what was most notable was that Gareth Southgate swapped out all three of his central midfield players. If you’re of the persuasion to include wing-backs in midfield then effectively Kieran Trippier was the only one not to lose his place.

The tactical post-mortem from Croatia concluded that the midfield was where England faded away, pinned back and overcome down the flanks. Perhaps Southgate agreed and maybe this was his way of trying something new as he looks to future. But against Belgium, just as against Croatia, England’s familiar old flaw of struggling to keep the ball reared its head, even if the personnel had shifted. As Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne flitted between lines it was a reminder that for all the progress under Southgate, England lack such midfield talent to compete.

Is Loftus-Cheek the future?

When England were feeling the heat against Croatia, Gareth Southgate took beyond the 70th minute to bring on a substitute. He didn’t use another until extra time, and at no point did he turn to his most gifted midfield talent, Ruben Loftus-Cheek. So does the manager trust him?

Ruben Loftus-Cheek competes with Eden Hazard (AP)

Loftus-Cheek got his opportunity against Belgium for the second time in the tournament, and played tidily without really impressing himself on the game. The 22-year-old now more than ever needs to be trusted at club and country if he is to fulfil his vast potential, and England sorely need him to if they are to put up a fight against opponents of this calibre.

Kane unable

Harry Kane will almost certainly win the Golden Boot, bar a miraculous performance from Kylian Mbappe or Antoine Griezmann on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean his performance in this tournament should be free from scrutiny. He started well against Tunisia and Panama but has faded through the knockout stages, not having a scoring since his penalty against Colombia or even mustering a shot on target against Sweden or Belgium.

The fear of leaving him out against Belgium in the group stage was that he and the team would lose momentum, but if anything it looks as if he has played too many minutes, seemingly weary and heavy-legged through much of the games against Sweden, Croatia and here against Belgium.

Is England’s football revolution a myth?

One tweet caught the eye this week because it went against so obviously against the grain. “England playing out from the back is a myth,” went the gist, and watching England try to pass their way through treacle against Belgium certainly didn’t disprove the point.

Eric Dier played in the holding role (Reuters) (REUTERS)

There was a flowing move at the end of the first half – Delph, Dier, Delph, Rose, Delph, Kane, Sterling, Loftus-Cheek – which showed just what they are capable of with confidence and an injection of speed into their play, but when it broke down Belgium steamed forward again and nearly scored, illustrating how it can be done with a clinical edge. England undoubtedly try to play from the back under Southgate, but the final steps through midfield and into the final third remain a work in progress.

Foundations laid