Frédéric Bleus thinks the Red Devils must part ways with Domenico Tedesco
Was the first defeat of the Tedesco era, against Slovakia at the opening of the Euro, one too many? Since this setback (0-1) on June 17, until the defeat, shameful, dare we say, this Sunday against Israel (1-0), five months later, the coach's certainties have seemed to be cracking over time. time. And the record, bright red, of six defeats in ten matches, stings a little more where it hurts.
During the Euro, the Italian-German technician was never able to relaunch a positive dynamic, in the space of a match, for a selection which had suddenly lost its momentum, lost in choices that had become less readable. , even if the tactic, against France, in the round of 16 of the Euro (1-0 defeat), was perhaps not the worst idea.
He had made his media culpa, at the start of the September school year, expressed his desire to do tests to prepare for qualifications for the 2026 World Cup. But on closer inspection, what were the tests? Of the 17 starters who started the first five Nations League matches, only Arne Engels made a real first start.
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To a lesser extent, Maxim De Cuyper and Charles De Ketelaere were used more often from the start, but they were already present in Germany. New faces have arrived, but less to play than to smell the scent of Tubize. And so the big (r)evolution has not been so visible, leaving the impression of an in-between that is not too assumed.
Collectively, the tests were inconclusive. It was only the first period, against France, which brought back the memory that this team was capable of setting things on fire. The shipwreck in Italy – the hour in numerical superiority cannot erase the shortcomings of the first period –; the crisis of Kevin De Bruyne in France – understandable given his investment but which always goes badly –; the enormous shortcomings against Italy – first period – and against Israel, in the construction in particular, were all moments that did not serve Tedesco's cause.
The coach is always supported by his players, at least that's what they say. Do they really mean it? That's another question, and only those who are interested really have the answer. But can Tedesco revive this group? At this moment, no.
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If we launched a large poll, the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco would undoubtedly carry a large majority, especially after this humiliating defeat against Israel, 81st in the FIFA rankings. But what exactly can we blame him for? To have lost Thibaut Courtois and not to have seduced Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku? It's true, the Devils have lost, totally or in part, the last three bronze jewels, of the team which finished on the podium of the 2018 World Cup.
But is this really what will save the national team? The arrival of a new coach would revive the interest of the three giants of our football for a few months but are they still blending into a young group, which no longer has the same codes? Is it doing the new generation a service to impose on elders who spend their time comparing everything with the great era, which was also that of privileges granted by Roberto Martinez? Yes, it was better before but it won't make much progress. On the contrary, it strains kids who already don't need that.
Tedesco made a broad inventory of the talents of our Kingdom. He has launched a lot of new Devils and there are great promises. As Dick Advocaat and Georges Leekens were able to do at the beginning of the golden generation. Without reaping the fruits only ripe a few years later, under the Marc Wilmots era.
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Keeping Tedesco does not, however, mean giving up on participation in the World Cup. Unlike the time of the complicated beginnings of Hazard, De Bruyne and company, there remain motivated executives to positively supervise young people. Castagne, Casteels and Tielemans. We could even place Onana in this category. With a Doku as the head of the new generation, there is already a solid foundation.
On Sunday, older players like Castagne and Lukebakio could have taken advantage of the defeat against Israel to not support their coach. Which would have been a very clear message. They did the opposite, quite virulently even for the Seville winger. They demand popular support. But perhaps also that of the new technical director Vincent Mannaert. He is the one who will have to evaluate Tedesco now. Will his first decision be very costly for the federation? When he started in Bruges, he wanted to dismiss coach Adrie Koster but kept him… at the request of the supporters. Will he listen to them again this time?
