ReutersDisappointment for Belgian Arne Engels
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 23:28
Belgium escaped direct relegation against Israel in the Nations League. The Red Devils disappointed badly in a foggy Bozsik Arena in Budapest and lost 1-0. Two more goals conceded and Belgium had lost its place in the top division.
It was the fourth defeat in six games for the errant team of national coach Domenico Tedesco, which is under heavy fire in Belgium due to disappointing performances. Play-offs await in March in which Belgium will continue to fight against relegation.
Battered team
Tedesco had to make do without no fewer than twenty players from his pre-selection on the last matchday of the group stage.
Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere, among others, were already missing. After Thursday’s defeat against Italy (0-1), Romelu Lukaku, Amadou Onana, Maxim De Cuyper, Roméo Lavia and Arthur Theate left the Belgian camp.
ReutersBelgium loses to Israel in the fog
With an improvised starting team, the Belgians showed little against Israel, which had the best chances and shortly before the end benefited from fumbling in the Belgian defense. Yarden Shua unpacked the present after debutant Matte Smets’ clumsy loss of ball and scored the only goal.
Despite the victory, Israel is relegated to the B division of the Nations League.
Group winner France possible against the Dutch team
France secured the group win at the expense of Italy with a victory in Milan. The much changed team of national coach Didier Deschamps won 3-1 against the Italians in San Siro.
France wins the group on goal difference and is now one of the possible opponents of the Dutch team in the quarter-finals, which will be played in March. The other possible opponents of the Dutch are Portugal and Spain.
ReutersAdrien Rabiot (14) and Lucas Digne (3) were important for France
Deschamps, who once again left Kylian Mbappé out of his selection for this international match, changed his starting team in no fewer than eight places compared to the disappointing draw against Israel (0-0) last Thursday.
Only goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defenders Jules Koundé and Ibrahima Konaté started in both matches.
Adrien Rabiot headed twice (0-1 and 1-3) on a pass from Lucas Digne, from whose foot the best goal of the evening came. However, he was not credited with the 0-2. His free kick sailed towards the intersection and bounced off the underside of the crossbar and the back of keeper Guglielmo Vicario into the goal.
Andrea Combiaso returned the favor after a good combination on the Italian left flank between Federico Dimarco and Sandro Tonali.
Belgium’s Disappointment Against Israel: A Foggy Situation!
Well, folks, Belgium managed to escape direct relegation against Israel in a match that can best be described as a soggy flop in the foggy Bozsik Arena in Budapest. Losing 1-0 is kind of like ordering a gourmet meal and getting served burnt toast instead. Not quite what you had in mind, eh?
The Soggy Red Devils
The Red Devils, under the stewardship of national coach Domenico Tedesco, are taking the concept of disappointment to dizzying new heights. With four defeats in just six matches, this team is like an apprentice juggler who keeps dropping the balls. Now they’re facing the prospect of play-offs in March, which is rather like being cast in a horror movie—lots of suspense, and you know it’s going to end badly!
To add insult to injury, Tedesco had to field a team missing not one, not two, but twenty players from his pre-selection. At this point, it’s less of a football team and more of a charity case! No Kevin De Bruyne, no Romelu Lukaku, and definitely no Charles De Ketelaere—talk about the walking wounded! This situation is so dire, it’s practically begging for a support group.
A Gift for Israel
So what happened in the match? Despite being fielded in a tactical mess, Belgium’s defense showed little resilience. Israel—probably thinking it was Christmas early—wrapped up a delightful gift of a goal courtesy of Yarden Shua, who took advantage of a rather clumsy turnover from debutant Matte Smets. Honestly, the Belgian defense looked like they were trying to carry out a covert operation—unfortunately, that operation was ‘How to Lose a Match.’
Despite Israel’s stunning victory, they too are facing relegation down to Division B. These two teams seem to be playing a dangerous game of musical chairs, and at this point, everyone’s about to end up without a seat!
France is Flying High!
Meanwhile, on a slightly brighter note—if not a foggy one—France has smashed their way to victory against Italy, winning 3-1. It’s as if Didier Deschamps’ team showed up with a firecracker while everyone else was playing with sparklers. You have to commend the French for their dramatic 8 changes in the lineup compared to their previous match! Talk about a makeover; they should head straight to the stylists for a reality show!
Adrien Rabiot, like a magician pulling rabbits from a hat, scored twice, while the third goal was a piece of sheer genius that Louis Braille would be proud of; you could practically hear the crossbar weeping with joy!
What Lies Ahead for Belgium?
Looking ahead, Belgium is left to ponder how to fill the gaping hole in their squad and perhaps book an appointment with a sports psychologist. After all, one can only endure so many existential crises on the pitch before seeking professional help. They’ll have to be vigilant and feisty come March if they want to dodge relegation entirely—after all, nobody wants to wake up and find themselves in a league with teams that can’t even spell football!
In conclusion, as Belgium scrambles to put their pieces back together, they can take solace in the fact that at least they aren’t alone in their misery. After all, misery loves company… just ask Israel!
Belgium narrowly escaped direct relegation after a disappointing encounter against Israel in the Nations League, held in the fog-shrouded Bozsik Arena in Budapest, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat. Despite their efforts, two more conceded goals would have meant Belgium’s drop from the top division, highlighting the team’s precarious position.
The loss marks Belgium’s fourth defeat in their last six matches under the scrutiny of national coach Domenico Tedesco, whose side has faced mounting criticism back home due to a string of lackluster performances. The team now looks ahead to crucial play-offs in March, where they will battle to avoid relegation.
Tedesco’s tactical options were severely limited, forced to navigate the match without twenty players from his pre-selected squad, an unprecedented challenge for any coach. Key figures such as Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Charles De Ketelaere were already ruled out, and the situation worsened when Romelu Lukaku, Amadou Onana, Maxim De Cuyper, Roméo Lavia, and Arthur Theate exited the Belgian camp following a narrow 0-1 defeat against Italy, further depleting an already weakened squad.
With an improvised starting eleven, Belgium struggled to make an impact against Israel, who capitalized on defensive errors to create the best chances of the match. The decisive moment came late in the game when Yarden Shua took advantage of a dangerous mistake from debutant Matte Smets, scoring the only goal and sealing Belgium’s fate for the evening.
Despite their win, Israel faced their own disappointment as they were relegated to the B division of the Nations League, underscoring the competitive struggles faced by both teams.
France, meanwhile, celebrated a triumphant group stage victory at the expense of Italy, overcoming the Azzurri 3-1 at San Siro under the guidance of national coach Didier Deschamps. The victory not only secured France’s place atop the group on goal difference but also positioned them as a potential opponent for the Dutch team in the quarter-finals scheduled for March.
Deschamps made a bold move by altering eight positions in his starting lineup from the previous disappointing 0-0 draw against Israel. Only goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defenders Jules Koundé and Ibrahima Konaté retained their spots, illustrating Deschamps’ willingness to refresh the squad after recent results.
Adrien Rabiot emerged as a standout player, scoring two critical goals with well-placed headers, while Lucas Digne also made significant contributions, delivering a beautifully executed free kick that rattled the crossbar before finding the back of the net via a rebound from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
In a spirited exchange on Italy’s left flank, Andrea Combiaso linked up beautifully with Federico Dimarco and Sandro Tonali, returning the favor to keep the match competitive, even as France advanced in the tournament.
How have Belgium’s recent performances affected their position in the Nations League?
Fensive blunders culminated in Yarden Shua’s goal, a result of a costly misplacement by debutant Matte Smets that left the Belgian backline exposed. Despite their efforts, Belgium’s performance was lackluster, leading to a disappointing result that has left fans questioning the team’s direction.
The aftermath of this loss has been a stark reminder of Belgium’s recent struggles, as they find themselves in the precarious situation of battling for their spot in the top tier of the Nations League. Their four defeats in six matches underline the challenges facing coach Tedesco, who has yet to find a winning formula amid a torrent of injuries and absences.
Meanwhile, as Belgium licks its wounds, France has been reveling in its success. The French team showcased a stellar performance against Italy, securing a 3-1 victory at the iconic San Siro. With Didier Deschamps making bold tactical changes and producing a remarkable victory, France clinched the group win and now stands poised as a potential rival for the Dutch team in the upcoming quarter-finals.
As Belgium sets its sights on the March play-offs, the overarching challenge will be to rally the remaining squad members and string together performances that can defy expectations. Optimism will be crucial as they confront the looming threat of relegation, and fans can only hope for a turnaround as the team navigates through this foggy crisis.