ItalyBelgium
UEFA Nations League – matchday 3 – 10/10/24 – 20:45
timeiconplayerhomeTimehomeIconhomePlayerscoreawayPlayerawayIconawayTime
2′
Andrea Cambiaso
2′
Andrea Cambiaso
1 – 0
24′
Mateo Retegui
24′
Mateo Retegui
2 – 0
42′
Maxim De Cuyper
2 – 1
Maxim De Cuyper
42′
61′
Leandro Trossard
2 – 2
Leandro Trossard
61′
Italy – Belgium was a fascinating match in two main parts: one before and after the red card for the home team. First the Red Devils were nowhere and conceded two goals. Until a tackle from Pellegrini provided a lifeline just before half time. With one more man, goals from De Cuyper and Trossard ensured a comeback in Rome.
The great test of Domenico Tedesco’s ingenuity?
For the first time, the Red Devils’ choice man was tested without superstars such as De Bruyne and Lukaku. Secretly, our national coach was looking forward to a tactical joust with (half) compatriot Spalletti.
But the Belgians were able to dismiss that option almost immediately. Some indecisive defending from De Cuyper resulted in a hammer blow before the match even got underway.
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Afterwards, the Red Devils continued to hold their positions.
Although it also became clear that the Italians could split the Belgian sea at any time with more dedication and dueling power.
One brilliant crosspass exposed the sore point. Casteels still had a parade in his pocket with Cambiaso’s curl, but in the restart he had to surrender against goal stealer Retegui.
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The cups? They had a hard time not falling towards the turf.
Physically and tactically, the Devils barely gained a foothold. Until Pellegrini single-handedly turned the match around. The midfielder applied for a role as a butcher. A shout at Theate and a red cardboard result.
Suddenly the Belgians smelled blood. With a rehearsed song, Maxim De Cuyper reconciled with the entire nation. His wonderful free kick was labeled “the streak of hope” just before half time.
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After the break, the Devils acted like the dream pawns in Tedesco’s chess game. Although his opponent had one less tower to keep the Italian fortress standing.
The latter turned out to be a difficult task. Belgium besieged the Azzurri’s sixteen. With a golden toe after – again – a rehearsed number, Leandro Trossard brought his country completely on level terms.
The Italians certainly suffered, folded back and panted, but did not squat. A lack of finesse and the recalcitrance of the match management in not awarding penalties made a division of points unavoidable.
The tactical jousting between the national coaches ends in a draw. Then wait for the ingenious spark against France?
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Trossard: “We all played football on an island”
Trossard: “This is a point of resilience? I think so. We start difficult and immediately fall behind. The 2-0 is also too easy a goal. We have to do better. After the red card we play football well, create We have chances and we also score two goals.”
“We had agreed in advance how we should apply pressure. At one point it was not executed properly, which meant we were all playing football on an island. That red card certainly helped us get back into the match, but after that we were fine. well done.”
Tielemans: “It’s always a mental blow to score goals quickly. We have to defend much better as a team. We have to analyze that carefully. The fact that they scored so quickly made it difficult. Italy also set the block well.”
“I think we crushed Italy well in the second half. With our start to the match we should be happy with a point, but afterwards the feeling remains that we could win. We will go for it against France. But then we will should start better.”
Related:
Closely fought point in Rome: 2-2
A two-faced match split by a red card. The Red Devils were nowhere against 11 Italians and everywhere against 10 Azzurri. As a result, they fought their way back into the match thanks to a pearl from De Cuyper and a golden toe from Trossard. The man who comes up with the rehearsed numbers on stationary phases can give himself a pat on the back. With a point everything remains open in the group.
An extra 6 minutes will be added.
No penalty, according to the match management. The Norwegian referee briefly makes the Belgians tremble, but he gives Spalletti a yellow card and does not go to the VAR screen.
Italy is crying out for hand play
Italy fires a shot in a rare counterattack. Suddenly all Italian hands go up. They all see hands from Wout Faes.
There were many attempts to attack, but the Belgians were no longer able to create any real concrete danger.
Peter Vandenbempt
The finesse has disappeared a bit in the Belgians’ game. Logical, because fatigue creeps into the legs after half of pushing. De Cuyper blasts a cross past everything and everyone.
Lukebakio gets a lot of space on his preferred right side. He connects with his left. In rugby his kick is worth points, unfortunately not in Nations League football.
Openda aims the ball just wide!
Not on and over. At least, not yet. De Cuyper has a good feeling in his left shoe and puts it against the ball again. Openda deflects the ball with a subtle tap. Donnarumma doesn’t have a reaction in the house, but she doesn’t need one either.
