Volgograd, Russia

More than a half-century since England last sat on top of the soccer world, after all those crushing losses, dashed hopes, and more crushing losses, it is finally sending a team to the World Cup that stands a serious chance of lifting the trophy.

Unfortunately, that team is Belgium.

While England’s best players open their 2018 World Cup against Tunisia here on Monday, the best players from the English Premier League will be 400 miles away, where they will be wearing red jerseys, facing Panama, and speaking French and Flemish.

“When you look at Belgium, you’re talking about a Premier League All-Star team,” said Matt Holland, a former Republic of Ireland international. “They’ve got some of the biggest names in English football.”