The Red Devils played a very good match against France. There was ten times more to see than that match at the European Championship. Unfortunately, they had to lose out again. And that shouldn’t have happened, but in modern football you just have to be efficient in both boxes. Hello barrages!
Domenico Tedesco acted normally this time, although he put Zeno Debast at right back again and Maxim De Cuyper had to settle for a place on the bench. Doku was also on the right, but there was definitely a plan behind that. Koundé had already made things difficult for him a few times and Digne had to suit him better.
Attacking trio swings, but… doesn’t score
That was also the case. After 7 minutes the left back had already received a yellow card. Doku did some damage. Just like Trossard on the other side. The two wing attackers regularly rolled up the defense, but scoring was not an option.
Openda also played one of his best matches in the shirt of the national team. Always playable and very dangerous in space. He dove into the back of Saliba and Konaté. There were plenty of opportunities, but finishing was a problem. He certainly should have slotted in Doku’s cross.
Tielemans misses penalty
Until Saliba slipped and took down the Openda who had broken through. The VAR had to check whether it was offside, but it wasn’t. Tielemans behind the ball and… he shot the ball meters wide. Painful, because the Devils should always have rewarded themselves for that excellent half hour.
And France remains France. When they finally entered the box, Faes unfortunately slipped and fell with his hand on the ball. Also penalty and Kolo Muani – for the third time in three mutual matches in the last four months – apparently has slightly better nerves than Tielemans. Casteels had no chance.
It remains a regrettable conclusion that as a team we have had difficulty scoring in the last six months. That was also the biggest shortcoming at the European Championships. And solve that if your two most efficient players have canceled until the World Cup qualifiers start.
Vertonghen curious
But still… not everyone is able to make the defense of France suffer like this. And it paid off a minute before the break. Castagne swung a fantastic cross to the far post where Openda emerged like a devil from a box to head in. First flagged, but immediately corrected by the VAR.
It must have done him good. “Very curious about the analysis during half-time now,” Jan Vertonghen tweeted. Well, a strong half is nice every now and then, Jan. France, by the way, played the second half in a completely different way.
They started to hurt the Belgians a lot on the counter. Koné had a goal disallowed for a previous handball. But moments later the ball was back against Casteels’ net. Mangala lost the ball, Digne crossed and again Kolo Muani scored with his head.
Jump-off no longer avoidable, Tedesco on target
After a rush from Tielemans, Tchouaméni had to pull the emergency brake and France was up to ten. The Devils were better, but the Bleus defense was barely passable. And then there was always Maignan. What a goalkeeper too!
Anyway, Belgium deserved better, but did not reward itself. The mistakes at the back are paid in cash against top countries and if you need ten chances to score once… Then you can play as well as you want. And the national coach cannot do that this time.
The Devils will have to play jump-offs to stay in the A group of the Nations League. That is now almost certain. “Tedesco démission” sounded through the stadium at the end. Well… He can hardly kick them in himself.
