Domenico Tedesco has a sense of panache. The coach could have locked down his midfield, 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 beginning of his mandate, he wanted to send the signal of a desire to seek depth and install a certain 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.
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It will remain to be seen the animation, and the system: 4-4-2 or 5-3-2? Carrasco, a priori established on the left side, will have to both defend and provide an offensive solution when possible, but one thing is certain: with the only Onana in the middle, the Everton midfielder will have work for three and he will have to hang on. De Bruyne, undoubtedly installed a notch lower, will have to initiate the rapid transitions, to send Doku and Openda away, or use them as a relay.
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 stay with four or five? The French speed will have to be compensated and installing a low block rather than a compact midfield is a way to project quickly forward when Belgium has regained possession.
The team: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate ; Carrasco, Onana, De Bruyne, Doku ; Lukaku, Openda
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: Lukaku-Openda, the offensive formula){kind=link}