Domenico Tedesco has a sense of panache. The coach could have locked down his midfielder, with a more defensive triangle on paper, he opted for a solution, still on paper, more offensive. By starting Lukaku and Openda from the start, for the second time since the start of his mandate, he wanted to send the signal of a desire to seek depth and install some pressure, with Openda.
The duo with Lukaku had not been effective against Austria, during its only use in qualifying for the Euro, but Tedesco is perhaps aiming for two things by launching Openda: to show his confidence, after a first round where he was little used and provided an additional solution for Lukaku, to make the difference up front and score, finally.
It remains to be seen how the animation works, and the system: 4-4-2 or 5-3-2? Carrasco, who will probably start on the left side, will have to both defend and provide an offensive solution when possible, but one thing is certain: with only Onana in the middle, the Everton midfielder will have work for three and he will have to hang on. De Bruyne, probably installed a notch lower, will have to initiate the quick transitions, to let Doku and Openda run, or use them as relays.
The other way to read this team composition is to try to understand the defensive animation. When the ball is lost, will the Belgian defense remain at four or five? The French speed will have to be compensated for and installing a low block rather than a compact midfielder is a way of projecting quickly forward when Belgium has regained possession.
The team: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate ; Carrasco, Onana, De Bruyne, Doku ; Lukaku, Openda
