(Belga) Arrived at the Euro with certainty about its game plan and with a conclusive experience at the 2018 World Cup, Belgium saw its tournament end against Italy (1-2) on Friday evening in Munich from the quarter-finals. Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils have never really been able to worry a Squadra Azzurra as domineering as it is refreshing. After a group stage that went almost perfectly, the Belgian national team have not found the keys.
Worried about the physical problems affecting Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard, Belgium is reassured as the group stage progresses. The three major pawns gradually integrate the team before all starting against Finland. After two initial successes against Russia (3-0) and Denmark (2-1), they play almost the entirety of a controlled match (2-0) which allows the Devils to line up three successes, to win the first place in their group and challenge a 3rd in the group. Observers are also reassured about the quality of the defensive sector, another main question mark before the tournament because of its physical fragility, its age or its lack of pace. But both Dedryck Boyata, imperial against Russia, and Thomas Vermaelen, serene against the Finns, silenced all critics. Even Jason Denayer, guilty of a mistake on the Danish goal, was raised to the skies by his coach for his reaction. It is therefore with the lights turned green that the Devils head for Seville to face Portugal, reigning European champion and third in his group behind France and Germany. The national team inevitably expect to suffer but have proven against Denmark that they can do the big back before pulling out their claws. Fearsome in efficiency, Romelu Lukaku is the standard-bearer of this Belgium, which has become more cynical and perhaps less romantic than during its Russian epic. Returning Thomas Vermaelen in the axis of his defense alongside the tauliers Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, Roberto Martinez opts for the experience against the Portuguese led by Cristiano Ronaldo. In the heat of Seville, the Devils suffered throughout the second half but cling to the arrow released by Thorgan Hazard before the break. Belgium qualified with a single shot on target after having repelled the assaults of the Seleçao for long minutes. If everyone praises the fighting spirit and the hard-line of the national team, this Pyrrhic success, acquired with forceps, constitutes a first serious warning. Especially since Kevin De Bruyne, injured in the ankle on a Portuguese tackle, and Eden Hazard, affected in the hamstring at the end of the match, came out grimacing. Five days later, Belgium crosses paths with an Italy with a historic positive spiral. Driven by 31 successes in a row, Roberto Mancini’s team offers a flawless score on the lawn of the magnificent setting that is the Allianz Arena in Munich. Despite the presence of De Bruyne, who could have even opened the scoring without a four-star save from Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Devils cannot find the key to the tactical safe offered by Roberto Mancini. Playful and forward-looking, Italy exploits her superiority to perfection, both in the midfield with a Barella-Verratti-Jorginho trio and on the wings with notably the stirring Spinazzola and Insigne. Back in the match on a penalty caused by Jérémy Doku, joy of the Belgian evening, Belgium gets a few chances but fails to conclude them, the fault of a great Donnarumma or the thigh of the unfortunate Spinazzola, seriously injured at the end of the match. Seeing the stadium stopwatch scrolling quickly and his flock not finding the solution, Roberto Martinez injects Dries Mertens and Nacer Chadli but does not touch his sacrosanct system. He had the opportunity to do so four minutes later when Chadli had to give up his place due to injury. While we were perhaps expecting the rise of Yannick Carrasco or a second striker, it is indeed Dennis Praet who is rising to the game. Despite a slalom from Doku, punctuated by a shot too removed, the Devils no longer worry a cunning and strong Squadra. Convinced of the strength of his team and of a carefully constructed system since his arrival in September 2016, Martinez has not deviated from his line of conduct. The Catalan, under contract until the 2022 World Cup, which is already coming with great strides, did not want to discuss his future in the wake of elimination. “I don’t want to say anything about the emotion,” he said laconically. However, the Devils are two matches away from winning their first trophy since 1920. In October, they can console themselves in the Final Four of the Nations League. A victory against France would open the doors to a first final since Euro 1980. Even if it is a recently created competition, it could put balm in black-yellow-red hearts. (Belga)
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