There is currently little to be cheerful about with the Belgian national team. This is the conclusion drawn by the media in Belgium after the defeat against Italy (0-1), which effectively ends the Red Devils' chances of reaching the quarter-finals of the Nations League.
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Belgium’s national football team once again faced a familiar disappointment against Italy, falling 0-1 in their recent Nations League encounter.
Despite a strong comeback from a two-goal deficit in their previous match against the Azzurri (2-2), this time, Domenico Tedesco’s squad couldn’t match the level set by Luciano Spalletti’s well-organized Italian team. The result has led to harsh criticism from the Belgian media, who were left perplexed by the tactical choices made by Tedesco, particularly the overly cautious approach against his native Italy.
The Belgian press, led by Het Nieuwsblad, did not hold back in its analysis of the match, pointing out that Belgium’s hopes of victory against Italy have now been dashed for 52 years. “Did he convince anyone with his strategy?” the newspaper questioned, noting that this is the third defeat for the Red Devils in the current Nations League campaign. The team’s tactical setup was a topic of heated debate, with Het Nieuwsblad highlighting that the initial game plan didn’t work, even with changes such as Jeremy Doku being deployed as a right-back in the previous draw, and a three-man defense that often fell back into a five-man line against Italy’s positional dominance. The publication pointed out the dire statistics: this marks Belgium’s fifth loss in the past five months, with the team collecting just four points out of a possible fifteen in this Nations League edition.
The spotlight quickly shifted to Romelu Lukaku, the captain and star striker, who was expected to lead the team in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne. Lukaku, currently playing for Napoli, was the most high-profile player on the pitch for Belgium. However, the forward was unable to make an impact against a solid Italian defense. Belgian sports outlet Sporza noted Lukaku’s struggles, writing that he “had absolutely nothing to show against the dominance of the visitors.” The match statistics told a stark story, with Belgium managing only 20 percent possession in the opening 15 minutes, an indicator of the team’s passive start. Lukaku and Openda were left isolated up front, waiting for service that never arrived, as Belgium struggled to build any attacking momentum.
The second half brought some hope, as the team showed a better side of themselves and created a few scoring chances. Yet, even with two clear opportunities, Lukaku was unable to convert. His frustration was evident when he buried his face in the mud after missing a key chance. “Disappointed, Big Rom buried his face in the mud. In this cursed 2024, things just aren’t going right for Lukaku with the national team,” commented one analyst. The 31-year-old striker, who holds the record as Belgium’s all-time top scorer with 81 goals, hasn’t found the net since scoring twice against Luxembourg in a friendly match back in June. Lukaku’s struggles come after he missed two previous international windows due to injury, adding to the mounting pressure on the star forward to deliver for his country.
With this loss, Belgium now faces a critical match against Israel on Sunday, where they must secure a win to avoid direct relegation from Division A of the Nations League. Het Laatste Nieuws was blunt in its assessment, noting that Belgium never truly looked like a contender for a spot in the quarter-finals. “After the 0-1 defeat against Italy, any hopes of reaching the quarter-finals are over,” the newspaper stated. “Zero points from six against Les Bleus, and only one point from six against the Azzurri. With such poor results, there’s no justification for being among the top eight teams in the Nations League.” The publication went on to highlight the significant quality gap between Belgium and the experienced Italian side, noting that Italy’s savvy tactics and well-drilled squad exposed the weaknesses in Tedesco’s game plan.
Tedesco’s tactical decisions were scrutinized after the match, with criticism not only coming from the media but also from within his own squad. Leandro Trossard publicly questioned the head coach’s approach, pointing out the team’s lack of intensity in the early stages. In his post-match comments, Tedesco acknowledged the issues, stating, “In the first 20 minutes, we were too passive. The intensity was lacking.” He defended his choices by explaining that he had opted for a different system and lineup, experimenting with new players. “We played with many different players, and I chose a different system. Besides, Italy is simply an excellent team, especially strong in their build-up play,” Tedesco elaborated. He tried to rally the team during halftime, emphasizing that the game was still within reach. “At halftime, I made it clear that everything was still possible. After a few adjustments, you saw that we showed a different side,” he noted.
Despite the slight improvement in the second half, the result remains a setback for Tedesco and his squad, who now find themselves in a precarious position. The upcoming match against Israel is not just about avoiding relegation; it’s about salvaging some pride in what has been a disappointing Nations League campaign. The pressure is mounting on Tedesco to find a winning formula, and for players like Lukaku to rediscover their form, as the team looks to turn around what has been a challenging year for Belgian football.
Updated: 11:00, 15 Nov 2024
