This is a hell of a match that this Euro 2024 round of 16 match offers us. Even if it is true that in terms of content and the game offered, both the Blues and the Red Devils can do much better, there will be some very good players on the pitch at the Düsseldorf Arena. A duel marked by the emerging rivalry between the two countries. On the Belgian side, there is clearly a desire to take revenge for this 2018 World Cup and the famous “seum”.
And the Belgians have prepared well for this clash. Domenico Tedesco has taken note of Deschamps’ tactical changes, who should use a 4-4-2 against the Belgians. “We know that the last time they played with this system was in 2021. It’s a pretty good sign for us that a team wants to adapt to what we’re proposing. It means that what we’re doing is not that bad. But it can also be a matter of them making tactical adjustments that have to do with their way of playing. Regardless of who will play and what system will be favoured, I think we can all agree that this France team has a lot of quality. In this kind of game, you have to adapt quickly and be aware of more things. There can’t be just one plan, that would be too easy, we need to have several, we need a great capacity to adapt.”explained the coach of the flat country.
Belgian players put pressure on France
Our Belgian neighbours clearly label France as favourites. “There is a lot of quality in the French. They can probably make two starting elevens… maybe even four. To beat France, we have to play very, very well. Maybe France has to be a little less. And we also have to take our chances. You’re not going to have ten chances against them. The ones you get, you have to score. We’ve had chances in all three games, but we haven’t been effective so far. Kylian Mbappé is incredible. He can change a game in a second thanks to his speed. He scores a lot of goals, he’s always dangerous. The quality is there, in him and in other players.”Kevin de Bruyne said at the RTBF.
Orel Mangala also wanted to highlight the level of the Blues: “It’s a very exciting match coming up. I don’t think it’s a match between two sick teams. France has a lot of quality, but so do we. We’re going to do everything to win. They are favourites because they know what’s at stake. I’m playing in Lyon so everyone has been teasing me a bit. Before the tournament, people were telling me to have a good Euro, but just not to beat France.”. Philippe Albert, former Belgian international and consultant for the RTBFalso gave the Blues the status of favorite: “It’s not easy because this French team is unpredictable. They are bad during one match and they are capable of transcending themselves the next. Without Emiliano Martinez’s miraculous save for Argentina, the French would have two consecutive World Cups. I expect us to suffer, I hope we will keep our heads down. Offensively, we have the weapons to hurt them. Defensively, France leaves nothing to its opponents. That’s the big difference compared to us. One of our best players since the start of the competition is Koen Casteels. Without the prowess of our goalkeeper, I don’t know if we would be in the last 16. We must nevertheless remain confident and hope that the Devils play a match at 100%, or even more, of their possibilities. Also hope that the Blues are having a bad day. From that point on, I am convinced that we can take them out.”. But it is on the field that France will have to prove that it has the level to take out the Belgians and go far…
