Now that coach Domenico Tedesco’s defensive options are shrinking more and more, analyst Marc Degryse argues for playing with a very offensive team – especially in the group stage. He would even go so far as to put one of the two defensive midfielders on the bench.
We once again witnessed it during these two friendly matches: Belgium’s greatest strength lies in its offensive strength. “On the one hand, De Bruyne can put every ball on a plate, Doku can destroy a defense in one action, and with Lukaku you have someone who puts the balls in the back,” said the former Red Devil Marc Degryse In Het Laatste Nieuws.
“It is precisely in this offensive richness that I would choose to field as many offensive players as possible and place them in their best position. By that I mean that I am not a fan of Tedesco’s system which positions Castagne high on the right flank, which means that Trossard can go inward.”
Degryse then advocates a clear team composition where everyone is aligned in their best position. “Here’s what I think: placing a right winger as a right winger – Bakayoko, For example. And let Trossard really play number 10: next to De Bruyneor in front of De Bruyne.”
However, this involves sacrificing a player. “Especially in the group stage, I would go out Mangala. Against Romania for example, you really don’t need a double buffer in front of the defense.”
“But hey, in Qatar and during the last Euro, Martinez’s selection experienced many problems each time. Our best players were not in good shape. It’s different now. The boys who must make the difference are fresh and hungry even before the start of the Euro.”
