Painful evening for the Belgian promises: European Championship very far away after 0-2 defeat against the Czech Republic

Despite the many absentees, the Young Devils still had a lot of great names at the kick-off and under the command of Anderlecht midfielder Mario Stroeykens they immediately tried to keep the pace high and play the Czechs out of context with short, quick combinations. However, they lacked the purity in the zone of truth to effectively succeed in their purpose.

Yet our promises created the best chances: Stassin’s first attempt went wide, but moments later an excellent save was needed from the Czech goalkeeper to prevent the Saint-Etienne striker from scoring.

Shot in own foot

You would think that there is nothing wrong with the air, because the Czechs have little in return. Until Senne Lammens made a horrible mistake ten minutes before half-time. The Antwerp goalie wanted to immediately change the game after a back pass, but the ball suddenly hit a Czech. Lammens tried to knock the ball out of his cage, but in vain: 0-1 Czech Republic. A very bitter goal for the Belgians. And not the first time they have shot themselves in the foot in this qualifying campaign.

The Devils had to change things up after the break, but came away very well when a harmless Czech shot deflected off Van Den Bosch, but fortunately hit the post and not into the goal. A stroke of luck for the Devils, who otherwise had mainly bad luck. On the hour mark, Stassin seemed to score the equalizer, but he was flagged for just offside.

New target

Immediately afterwards, national coach Gill Swerts brought in three fresh (attacking) forces with Bassette, Matazo and Olaigbe. The latter also soon had a chance to equalize, but after a good run he aimed against the legs of the visiting goalkeeper. However, the goal eventually fell on the other side: after a Czech corner kick, the ball got stuck in the small rectangle and the newly substituted Fila was able to easily work the ball against the ropes. 0-2.

With the exception of a shot from Matazo, there was no Belgian reaction after that second blow, meaning that the young Devils will have to work hard on Tuesday in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, to win that coveted European Championship ticket.

Belgium: Lammens, Siquet, Van Den Bosch, Spileers, Rommens, Dams (62′ Olaigbe), Keita (62′ Matazo), Delorge (80′ Karetsas), Stroeykens, Vermant (80′ Sylla), Stassin (62′ Bassette)

Czech Republic: Hornicek, Prebsl, Chaloupek, Spacil, Suchomel, Vydra, Langhamer (86′ Sojka), Harustak, Jurasek (79′ Fila), Karabec (71′ Danek), Sejk

Yellow cards: 27′ Siquet, 50′ Rommens, 67′ Spacil, 78′ Vermant

Goals: 34′ Karabec 0-1, 80′ Fila 0-2

Delorge: “We should not point to Senne”

Mathias Delorge was disappointed after the 0-2 defeat. “It was a very frustrating evening. We had the match under control and also created some chances, but we didn’t score that goal and then we conceded two very annoying goals,” sighed the AA Gent midfielder. Senne Lammens made a painful mistake with that first goal. However, Delorge did not want to throw a stone at his goalkeeper. “We cannot point the finger at Senne. This just happens in football. During half time we also told each other that we should not let our heads hang, otherwise you might as well stay inside.” However, Delorge does not deny that the goal against had a major influence on the course of the match. “After that goal, they could of course collapse even more and speculate even more on that counter.”

And then things just didn’t go well for the Young Devils. Because first Stassin’s equalizer was disallowed for just offside and barely a few minutes later the score was 0-2 after a corner kick. “I go into the game on that corner kick and the moment I land, the striker gets the ball in his feet and he can tap it in completely freely.”

The Young Devils now have to work hard on Tuesday. “It won’t be easy, but it can’t be easy either,” Delorge shows himself combative. “We are going there with the idea that we can still put this right. We have enough quality for that.”

Swerts: “Story of the entire campaign”

National coach Gill Swerts was also disappointed after his team’s defeat. “Especially because we are once again conceding goals in a very annoying way,” he said. “It is the story of the entire campaign, because in all those matches we hardly conceded any goals from open play. Each time they fell after stagnant phases or individual mistakes. I have no explanation for this, but it has simply happened too often.”

Yet he does not want to give up hope of qualifying. “The most important thing now is that we continue to believe in it. In that respect we have to replay the Scotland match in our heads. There too we had our backs against the wall, but in the end we won 0-2, which meant we advanced. We must try to repeat that now. This is not a 90 minute match, but a 180 minute match. The first half is now over, but there are still 90 more to come. And we are going to try to approach this in a positive way.”