A strange Tedesco, two abandoned wingers, a lost duo: 5 lessons after Belgium-Italy

Forced to develop a plan in view of the unavailable players and the injured, Domenico Tedesco pulled out of his hat a 5-3-2 which generally changed into 3-5-2 (Timothy Castagne et Maxim De Cuyper therefore projecting himself higher) in possession of the ball. The plan experienced a first early hitch, from the 11th minute of play, when successively Leandro Trossard et Zeno Debast lose the ball before Maxim De Cuyper completely misses his clearance into the Belgian rectangle.

The coach seemed somewhat strange in this Brussels evening. Sitting for a long period (five good minutes) at the start of the game, which is quite unusual for him, then very nervous during the rest of the first period (the fourth referee’s ears heated up on several occasions), the tactician of 39 was less whistled than against France.

The few whistles after the end of the match were drowned out by the chants of ‘Belgium, Belgium’ and the positive cries addressed to Romelu Lukakuthe leader of the movement towards the supporters. Timing chosen by Domenico Tedesco to show another, most unexpected side of this evening: a smile and a raised right hand towards the Belgian supporters. After the meeting, at a press conference, he seemed quite calm. He perhaps experiences criticism more difficult than he admits.