The coach has never been faced with so many withdrawals (Meunier, De Winter, Vranckx, Tielemans, De Bruyne, Doku, De Ketelaere, Duranville, Fofana, etc.). He smiled, facing the media, in a grin reflecting a touch of annoyance.
So let’s try to clear all this up, starting from the postulate that the 4-3-3 observed in October should be maintained.
Castagne or Debast on the right
From right to left, the defensive quartet Debast-Faes-Theate-Castagne had generally convinced against France despite the defeat (1-2, October 14). But the opponent on Thursday is Italy. And it might be wise to remember the trouble experienced in the first half by Doku and Debast, in the first leg (2-2, October 10), against the indestructible Dimarco. Hence the hypothesis of aligning Castagne on the right, more comfortable than Debast. Even if he thrives with Anderlecht, Sardella does not seem to represent an option from the outset.
In reality, it is a notch higher that the questions are multiplying. On Monday, Tedesco recalled Sambi Lokonga, Vermeeren and Mbangula to compensate for the packages of Fofana, Doku, De Ketelaere. The solutions on the wings are meager, Tedesco conceded, with, as the only real wingers, Lukebakio, Bakayoko (theoretically on the right) and the neophyte Mbangula (on the left), even if Trossard has already played there.
Trossard, let’s talk about it. That’s the key. The starting point, undoubtedly. If the Arsenal player is aligned to the left of the attack, the question arises of support, in the axis, behind Lukaku. An association with Openda seems unlikely. Because the Leipzig center forward is threatened with suspension and there would therefore no longer be a replacement for this position, on the bench.
Lots of axial mids
With Lavia, Vermeeren, Mangala, Sambi Lokonga, Engels and Onana, the squad is, however, overflowing with central profiles. Defensive midfielders or relay players, but no real playmaker. Vermeeren is probably the one who comes closest, but without the defections, he would be with the Espoirs… Engels (3 goals, 6 assists with Celtic) arrives launched to possibly complete a median triangle which would then lack a pure creative person but not a needy one to compensate.
We can also speculate on a Bakayoko-Trossard-Lukebakio line. In which case it would be necessary to shift the Sevilla player to the left, which Tedesco has never done to start a match. As for the novice Mbangula, he only has collective training in his legs, “but has already shown great things”, Tedesco slipped, maintaining the mystery of the entire puzzle.
