Belgium 0-2 Italy - Position-by-position analysis

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  • Italy won the majority of the key battles in Lyon.

    From Gianluigi Buffon’s wise old head between the Italy goalposts to Romelu Lukuku’s near misses up top for Belgium, here is a breakdown of how the key positional areas unfolded.

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    GOALKEEPERS

    Gianluigi Buffon was absent last time Italy played Belgium at the European Championship, the then-Parma keeper establishing himself as No. 1 during qualifying but breaking his hand on the eve of Euro 2000. He has not missed an international tournament since, is still first choice for his country, and still keeping valuable clean sheets. In truth, there wasn’t much for the Juventus star to do, such was Belgium’s struggle to create chances. All that was required was a pair of comfortable saves, one from Radja Nainggolan in the first-half and the other from Eden Hazard in the second.

    At the other end, Antonio Conte got a first-hand look at the man who will be his No. 1 at Chelsea and will surely have left Lyon impressed. Although he conceded two, Courtois also kept the score down – producing a smart stop from Antonio Candreva’s left-foot curler in the first-half before spectacularly palming away Graziano Pelle’s header and lunging brilliantly to deny Ciro Immobile in the second.

    DEFENDERS

    Giorgio Chiellini and Co did it again for the Azzurri. The Juventus trio has a total of 17 league titles between them and they called on their immense experience in a stirring display in Lyon. There were last-gasp blocks, cynical (or ‘tactical’ depending on your side) fouls and aerial bravery. It was prevention by any means necessary and they ensured that, despite wave after wave of Belgian attack in the second-half, the score was kept to nil. Leonardo Bonucci even stepped in with a delightful assist for Emanuele Giaccherini’s opener.

    Belgian’s defence was, in contrast, a shambles. Throughout the side, Marc Wilmots appears to be putting square pegs in round holes and it was certainly the case with his backline. Italy played with three centre-backs in their customary 3-5-2 formation but Belgium played with four centre-backs shoved into a 4-4-2. Putting faith in Thomas Vermaelen, a player who has barely featured for Barcelona, is an accident waiting to happen, while Jan Vertonghen appeared uncomfortable on the left after a season of playing successfully in the middle, for Spurs. Giaccherini’s goal exposed Belgium’s worrying susceptibility to balls over the top, a weakness that was apparent for all to see in the Red Devils’ pre-tournament friendlies. The Vincent Kompany-shaped hole in Wilmots’ defence gets more noticeable with each passing game.

    MIDFIELDERS

    Those who labelled Conte’s XI in Lyon the ‘worst Italy side in years’ ahead of the game were in the most part alluding to a midfield that certainly lacks the star power of Azzurri teams of old. No longer can Italy call on the flair and panache of the likes of Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo, a feeling heightened by the seeming disparity between Italy’s options and the embarrassment of riches Belgium possess in the middle. In Lyon, though, Conte’s men were a well-oiled unit. Matteo Darmian and Antonio Candreva worked hard up and down the flanks, the latter also showing some wonderful moments of creativity. Daniele De Rossi’s best days are certainly behind him but his warrior spirit remains, while Giaccherini and Marco Parolo were positionally disciplined and always used the ball effectively.

    For Belgium, Wilmots’ persistence in using Marouane Fellaini as his No. 10 is causing much consternation. Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are a far more natural fit, far more worthy of filling a role the great Enzo Scifo once excelled in. Red Devils fans in both Belgium and Manchester find Fellaini frustrating and it was exemplified by his display in Lyon. One moment there was an excellent piece of chest control, the next a wasted pass; one moment a Maradona turn to win possession, the next a cheap foul conceded. His inconsistency is infuriating. When Mertens and Carrasco were introduced, Belgium’s attacked appeared so much more vibrant, their presence on the wings enabling Hazard and De Bruyne to see more of the ball centrally, though neither could unlock the Italian defence.

    FORWARDS

    Like Italy’s midfielders, Graziano Pelle and Eder have suffered from unfavourable comparisons to former forwards. They may not be able to hold a candle to Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio, but Conte’s current frontline performed superbly against Belgium. Eder’s movement was intelligent, while Pelle came out the winner in a number of aerial battles with Fellaini – no mean feat – and was full of running, deservedly capping a hardworking display with a brilliantly taken volley late on.

    Italy took their chances, but profligacy cost Belgium; Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi were both guilty of missing excellent chances to snatch an equaliser before Pelle’s definitive goal. Lukaku struggled to get a look in before he misfired that second-half opportunity, though admittedly the Everton striker received little in the way of service. The break that immediately preceded Lukaku pushing his shot agonizingly wide was encouraging though, a pacy move that showed how devastating he, De Bruyne and Hazard can be when they are in tandem.

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