The Red Devils reacted magnificently in their second group match and beat Romania who had nothing to be ashamed of in their match. Was everything perfect though?
This time, Belgium did not wake up with a hangover… at least, not the same as the day after the match against Slovakia. It goes to show that all those who calmed things down last week (Franky Vercauteren, Jan Vertonghen, etc.) were right: there was no need to panic.
But as everything was not to be thrown away (but almost…) after Belgium-Slovakia, everything is not perfect after Belgium-Romania. Here are the lessons to be learned from this victory.
Theate-Vertonghen, it’s unmissable
Their return was so much talked about that we wondered a little if, after all, we weren’t expecting a little too much from a left back who is only ever “of fortune” and is coming back from injury, and a veteran of 37 years for whom each tournament can be one too many.
But Arthur Theate and Jan Vertonghen delivered a match that was simply reassuring, on many levels. Yes, “Sterke Jan” has sometimes been taken behind his back, but his positioning and experience as well as his long game place him head and shoulders above his competitors (unless Theate were to play central). We hope that Rennais’ injury exit is not too serious.
Tielemans when Belgium dominates, it’s something else
It was a certainty: against Romania, the Devils were going to have control of the ball a good part of the time, and there was no shortage of it. In this diagram, the Onana-Mangala double pivot is, in fact, too timid. It was therefore the right choice to align Youri Tielemans in a low-point triangle, almost with a 6 and two 10s.
Placed very high on the pitch, Youri Tielemans delivered a new recital, like at Wembley. This does not take away from the fact that when Belgium faces a tougher opponent, its role may be different and could work less well. But Tedesco may have succeeded in freeing the Villan.
Doku is something, but…
Impossible to remain indifferent to the arabesques, hooks and charms of Jeremy Doku. The Manchester City winger is a nightmare for just about any defender, and has caused panic at times. But, because there remains one but… Andrei Ratiu is far from being ridiculous.
The blue-haired full-back sometimes managed Doku well, sometimes less well. Facing a team of a higher caliber, Jérémy could well come up against several high-level defenders and his sometimes somewhat repetitive dribbles could no longer pass. And above all: once passed, you will have to add the last gesture to the score…
A good Wout Faes will always be Wout Faes
Blowing hair, rounded chest, spectacular gestures… We’ve seen these images countless times before, and when everything goes well, they give the impression that Wout Faes is the reincarnation of Carles Puyol (or Conan the Barbarian). Then, a missed move, a pass which costs Lukebakio a yellow, a lost duel which forces Casteels to win a face-to-face, and we fall back a little.
Wout Faes will always remain Wout Faes: capable of being imperial and then failing, sometimes in the same action. If Domenico Tedesco had a problem with this, he would have reacted a long time ago. And we had to get used to it. Because the impact and leadership that Faes brings are unique in the defensive sector.
Will Romelu do a Giroud?
The reference is obvious: in 2018, Olivier Giroud had not scored a single goal during the entire tournament. But in the end, France was crowned champion, and Giroud, this famous “karting” to whom “F1” Benzema was compared, had a huge role in this world title. We are of course deliberately exaggerating when making the comparison.
First, because Olivier Giroud had not just remained silent: he had… not had a shot on target the entire tournament. Lukaku has already done better. The idea is above all this: if Belgium starts to win its matches even while Romelu remains silent, it will perhaps cure a hell of an addiction. But we’re betting on it, and the odds are low: yes, the best scorer in the history of the Devils will score in this tournament. In the meantime, he is working collectively… thinking of Giroud?
Koen Casteels is in his place
Kevin De Bruyne may have been voted man of the match against Romania, but he wasn’t ours: it was good Koen Casteels. Two high-class saves to maintain the Belgian lead, a long, precise clearance to pick up Kevin De Bruyne and provide an assist: it was almost 10/10.
Against Slovakia, this may be forgotten due to the result, but Casteels had already been decisive in preventing the 0-2. Two good matches in a row, confidence is total and the Thibaut Courtois subject is closed. Finally !
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