How long until 6pm? The Red Devils’ European Championship group stage is approaching a thrilling climax. Will the Belgians still grab that dreamed group win against Ukraine? Will it be assassin E2? The safety net for the best third parties? Or… an early exit? Our European Championship analyst Gert Verheyen looks ahead.
“For me, it can continue for a while – it’s too much fun to stop now.”
On the train between Brussels and Stuttgart, Gert Verheyen muses about the European Championship of the Red Devils. Between all the calculations about potential opponents in the 1/8th finals, one would dare to forget that a place in the next round is far from a certainty.
Does Verheyen actually take into account that it may have been his last ride to Germany?
“The Belgians are going to qualify,” he believes. “But how many in the group? I dare not say.”
The rarity of the situation for the final matchday – four teams with the same number of points – makes the outcome even more unpredictable, according to Verheyen.
“A third group match is always a separate match, one that is completely separate from the previous two. When the standings start to change… It becomes crazy. Especially when you see what has already happened at this European Championship – Italy is still going through in the final minute, Austria wins its group.”
Devil’s dilemma
Anyway, amid all the calculations and conspiracy theories about salon draws, Verheyen likes to emphasize that the playing level of the Belgians will soon be decisive.
“That is why the Devils should not forget why it was so much better in their second group match. There was life and energy in the team, they played to win. With the same focus and quality as against Romania, advancing should not be a problem.”
Annoying: Tedesco will have to change his winning team in at least one place due to the suspension of Dodi Lukebakio.
“Otherwise there would have been a good chance that the national coach would not have changed. Now you have to make a difficult choice again – I think it is a very difficult one myself.”
“Johan Bakayoko is closest to Lukebakio in terms of type. But doesn’t Leandro Trossard deserve another chance? Without that poor first match, this might have been a no-brainer.”
The question now is: do you dare to do that again against Ukraine with better and faster guys up front?
Gert Verheyen
There are also a few tactical decisions for Verheyen to make.
“The approach against Romania was very daring and risky with the way of defending and applying pressure. Castagne stood on the left back of the opponent and at the back we played man-to-man far apart.”
“The question now is: do you dare to do that again against Ukraine with better and faster guys up front? The level of difficulty is high, but for a coach with courage it is possible. Really, I am curious to see how the Devils will handle things later.”
Will Trossard soon get a new chance in the starting line-up?
No warriors
Especially because Verheyen does not want to underestimate the Ukrainians – despite their difficult start at this European Championship.
“They still have the most individual talent of our opponents. Only in this tournament they are playing a bit without teeth – it is really a strange team in terms of eagerness. They can be really phlegmatic, to the point of being nonchalant. So far they have not been warriors. But you can lose if you’re not awake.”
“Undoubtedly the comeback against Slovakia will also have done them good. If you win after being behind, it always gives a boost. They still have everything to win in this tournament.”
We could be caught in the back against Ukraine if we are high again.
Gert Verheyen
Verheyen also focuses the spotlight on a few specific dangers.
“Artem Dovbyk is one of the strikers who has been struggling during this European Championship. I wonder if they will keep him after that winning goal by Roman Yaremchuk, because together with Andriy Yarmolenko he provides a lot of depth for Ukraine. We could be caught in the back there if we are high up again.”
“And Mykhaylo Moedryk is also a danger because of his speed. Okay, he’s not worth the 70 million that Chelsea paid for him. But there is always something coming out of it.”
Will we see Yaremchuk at work tonight?
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2024-06-26 04:14:54
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