Italy’s victory over Belgium was a triumph for collective unity over individual talent and it has left Marc Wilmots with some serious soul searching to do ahead of a must-win game against Ireland.
Wilmots has previously been praised for his ability to keep Belgium’s egos in check, a distinguished international career earning him the respect of his players, many of whom grew up admiring his prowess as an attacking midfielder.
However, he is still struggling to find an effective tactical formula, the over-cautious approach that blighted Belgium’s 2014 World Cup rearing its ugly head again here at Euro 2016.
His unwillingness to desist from using Marouane Fellaini as his No. 10 is a particular source of consternation. The decision to start Fellaini against Italy was not, of course, a totally ridiculous one. Against a physical Azzurri side, Fellaini was there for his brawn rather than brain.
But rather than stifle the Italians’ muscle, Fellaini shackled his own side. Belgium’s greatest ever No. 10 is Enzo Scifo, a player of real panache; compared to Scifo, Fellaini is a Red Devil in disguise, not fit to lace the great man’s boots.
In Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne, though, Wilmots has been blessed with two heirs apparent to Scifo, two men far more worth of filling that role.
Red Devils fans in both Belgium and Manchester find Fellaini unbearably frustrating. He is not just a wrecking ball, though he appears to evolving into more of a caricature of himself with each game that passes. There is talent there, Everton supporters can testify to that.
It is his inconsistency that infuriates and it was exemplified by his performance in Lyon. One moment there was a wonderful reverse through ball the De Bruyne, the next a wasted pass; one moment a Maradona turn to win possession, the next a cheap foul conceded.
Fellaini just doesn’t fit in this Belgium team. His defensive capabilities are surpassed by Axel Witsel and Radja Nainggolan, while going forward he slows down attacks rather than spearheads them. It is no coincidence that Belgium’s most dangerous foray against Italy came from a rapid break courtesy of De Bruyne, Hazard and Romelu Lukaku. Fellaini was nowhere to be seen.
According to @FourFourTwo's Statzone, Marouane Fellaini has won one header. What's he actually there for?
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) June 13, 2016
Hazard and De Bruyne are two sublimely skilled players and they need to see more of the ball. That happened when Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco came on to provide the width, and Belgium’s attack immediately seemed more fluid. There was not enough time for Hazard or De Bruyne to break through in Lyon, but if given 90 minutes next time out, the Irish defence will surely be unlocked.
It is of course a challenge to fit so many gifted players into one starting XI. But with Fellaini, Wilmots is putting a square peg in a round hole when he just doesn’t need to. It is a peg that should be consigned to the Belgium laundry basket.
Against Ireland, it’s time for Wilmots be more daring. It’s time to ditch Fellaini and throw off the shackles. Should he let the entertainers entertain, Belgium can still make an impact at Euro 2016.
