5 passes, 1 only to destination
We rewatched the match and the observation is harsh: none of these four passes arrived safely. Whether on a headed ball in the rectangle (23rd) or another in the depth on a touch (39th); whether on this counter situation, where Openda’s call and Lukaku’s pass did not go in the same direction (32nd) or, finally, on this low center overflow from the Naples striker that Leipzig had not felt (75th): there was always an Italian to cut the thread between the two players. It didn’t work, but then it wasn’t for lack of trying. The two players are not connected. Or not yet.
Tit for tat with Teklak: “Unlike Italy, there was no liaison on the Belgian side”
The coach, who left them together from start to finish for the first time, wants to believe it and could re-team them on Sunday against Israel. “I see a lot of potential in this duohe said Thursday. They want to play together and are happy to do so.” It remains to transform good intentions into actions. “Romelu likes to receive the ball at his feet and is probably the best in the world at using his body to protect the ball. We need to better understand the Openda racing lines. Better serve him in depth.”
gullThey must play close and use depth.
Because he only touched two balls in the first period and only made six passes and one shot in the match. “It’s probably because we didn’t put him in a good position enough: an attacker depends on the balls that are delivered to him. But I think they have to play close to each other and deep, which didn’t happen.” Lukaku, for his part, was only able to shoot twice on goal, without hitting the target. Three strikes, only one of which was stopped by Donnarumma, is not much. The duo does not yet form a pair, but there is room for improvement.
