Tedesco, before France – Belgium: “We haven’t won against France for 43 years? How long has it been since we won against Germany?”

In Lyon, against a suffering French team (see elsewhere), Domenico Tedesco has a second chance to change the perspective of his mandate, to give himself some momentum and to send flying forty years of defeat in an official match against a neighbour who is both irritating and inspiring.

This had been mentioned before the eighth-final in Düsseldorf and it must be mentioned again since the series has not been interrupted: in an official match, Belgium has not beaten France since September 9, 1981 and a qualifying match for the 1982 World Cup (2-0). “It’s longa soufflé Domenico Tedesco. But Belgium had beaten Germany after how many years without a victory?” The coach began his term by ending a 69-year run without success in Cologne in March 2023. We quickly understood the meaning of his speech: “What happened is past, we must focus on the future, on what we can control.” A little positivity, for heaven’s sake!

“Not as defensive”, “It will be different”: Tedesco and Onana ready for new match against France

43 years of waiting to be shattered

Forty-three years of waiting, to the day – the Devils were beaten at Euro 1984 (5-0) and at the 1986 World Cup (4-2 after extra time) before the 2018-2024 series – it is still a long interlude that it is time to close. As much for the history as for the present and the future of this selection, which showed some weaknesses against Israel (3-1), in Debrecen, to start with, then better intentions, afterwards.

Tedesco, during his media culpa of the selection announcement, had admitted that he had made his team play against nature against France. Should we expect a Belgian team that plays, all sails out and ambitious? If it is to leave spaces like last Friday to the Israelis, it will not be the best idea.

But if it is to reproduce the same pattern, with the same end result, as two months ago, that will not advance the debate, on the contrary.We don’t feel obliged to show anything new.replied the coach. The last impression we left at the Euro was not the best and I stick to my analysis that we adapted too much. But, for all that, we are not going to change everything.”

Although he denies it, Tedesco knows that he has pressure to manage, even if this Nations League is gently made to seem like a competition that doesn’t count. When a team wins, especially in certain circumstances, everything counts. That also applies to a defeat, by the way.We remain ambitious”hammered Tedesco. We will be curious to see that.

The question of past ambitions, the question of men, for this prestigious match, arises. Kevin De Bruyne played the entire match against Israel. Is he able to play ninety minutes again, with the crazy schedule that is coming up? He has not trained these last two days, like others, in order to preserve it.Afterwards, we’ll see during the match. But you know how important Kevin is to us.”

More generally, after having fielded what looked like a typical team against Israel, does Tedesco have an interest in rotating? He will have to make at least one change since Maxim De Cuyper, affected in the adductors, had to leave the selection while he had taken part in the training on Sunday morning.He felt some pain after the match and he wasn’t comfortable during training. We didn’t want to take any risks, but it’s a forfeit that remains annoying.”

De Cuyper forfeits, Meunier finally against France?

There are not many solutions, even if Amadou Onana slipped into a smile that he could help out – “Amadou in central defense and Arthur (Theate) left”laughed Tedesco. The most coherent solution would be to install Castagne, as has already happened. Or Thomas Meunier? It will be the opportunity, in any case, for one of the most French of the Devils to finally play his first France-Belgium.

As surprising as it may seem, the Lille player has not played any of the last three matches, suspended or injured as he had been. For his first against the Blues, could Meunier be the missing element? It is more a question of superstition. But a little superstition to beat France can’t hurt. A little anecdote, to finish? France, when it played against Belgium on its soil, lost two of its last three matches… They were friendly matches, in Paris, including the 1-2 and 3-4 victories, in 2002 and then in 2015. And in 2024?