Belgium dismantled Italy’s rigid tactical approach with a goal from De Caigny in the 49th minute to surprise the ‘azzurra’, climb to second position in group D and meet Sweden in the quarterfinals on Friday (9:00 p.m.). The ‘azzurra’ was able to contain the offensive potential of the combined Sernelly in the first part but he accused his lack of offensive resources in static when he had to attack. After his goal, Belgium knew how to neutralize the desperate crosses and long balls of the Milena Bertolini, that still had a Girelli crossbar. Until this Euro, Belgium had only been in the group stage of Holland 2017, so they will play a knockout in a European for the first time.
Italy and Belgium thought of each other before themselves, in conditioning the rival’s way of being before claiming theirs. Abundance of control, scarcity of risk. The ambitious first 10 minutes of the ‘azzurra’, accumulating players in the rival field -especially on the right-, were just an attempt to see what could fall. The balance of occasions was unfavorable for those of Milena Bertolini: Girelli scared with a long shot wide after Belgium’s loss at the start but Ives Serneels’s side intimidated more: a shot from Eurlings deflected after a bad pass from the Italians in the initial phase and a good shot from dhont the center of Wullaert.
Perhaps because of these two events, Italy preferred to cover itself from then on to avoid more incidents near your area, exposed to the erratic driving of its plants, especially Bartoli. Belgium let the two centrals out driving focusing on outshining Simonetti y Rosucci in midfield and Italy’s plan, which delivered the ball to the Belgians from the 10th minute, consisted of something similar. The tactical device woven by Bertolini was successful despite the absence of Italy in the Evrard area.
The transalpine team withdrew their two lines of four in their own field with their two most advanced players, Giugliano and Girelli, blocking the first movements of Belgium. Objective, which did not receive in the middle Vanhavermaet or, at least, that he did not do it face to face. The two most advanced pieces of Italy in the pressure were perfectly synchronized, one staying with the Reading midfielder and the other going to the central pressure with the ball. Belgian plants, Blesmans y Keesthey did not drive with conviction and the openings to the band were at the foot, without Italy problems to refer to the players on the wings.
Giugliano, one of the vivid images of Italian disappointment
Vanhavermaet tried to descend between the centrals to receive but without provoking anything or attracting either of the two points, who were inferior to the pivot and the centrals -3 against 2-, if they were going to press. The descent of the interiors to receive, Of Caigny and Cayman, they were also unsuccessful in failing to turn around. Monotony dominated the game but the pace picked up after the hydration break in what seemed like a direct intervention from Seernels to speed up Belgium.
The forwards, Wullaert and Eurlings began to go down to receive and, when they managed to turn around, they found more space behind the Italian defense, also threatened when Vanhavermaet He was able to play face to face with the downloads of the tips. Paradoxically, the more vertical game of Belgium activated the defensive game of the ‘azzurra’ by provoking more transitions and Italy began to appear more in the rival area and found the situation clearer on the counterattack with a low angled shot from Bonansea that Evrard aborted in the 40th minute.
From 45 minutes of calm to an instant of madness
The second began unaware of tactical rigidity and Belgium was almost spared the entire complex process that Italy’s structured plan forced them to undergo. she made it the ball stopped. At minute 49, De Caigny he caught a loose ball near the edge of the box on a lateral free kick and stamped the first with a precise and aesthetic shot close to the post. Madness then gave Italy a chance, but the crossbar spat out the violent shot from Baby walkers.
The madness consumed, Italy was now the one that had to arm itself with calm and patience to find the two goals he needed to not leave the Euro. The questions accumulated to the ‘azzurra’ before the brazen low block raised by Belgium, which went on to copy the old and mischievous Italian formula. The band openings to Boattin y Bonfantini they were sterile, both launching directly into the center without challenging their pair one-on-one. The Belgian team came out judiciously when they recovered but fell into disarray after the dividing line without managing to anesthetize the match with prolonged possessions and Italy had no major complications to recover.
All the interesting offensive production from Bertolini’s side came from Belgian losses resulting in transitions and, in one of these, Hyacinths -one of the fresh players in the second half-, won her back against the Belgian defense and forced a skilful intervention from Evrard in the 78th minute. Wullaert sent an elegant shot to the post and, at the same time that the tranquility increased for Belgium, the italian despair with innocuous centers and long balls to the area. The end of the contest was a distressing discount for the ‘azzurra’ towards elimination and a pleasant countdown to the quarterfinals for Belgium, which will meet Sweden on Friday (21:00).
Datasheet
Italy 0-1 Belgium
Italia: Giuliani; Di Guglielmo (Bonfantini, 46 ‘), Bartoli, Linari, Boattin; Bergamaschi (Cernoia, 80 ‘), Rosucci (Caruso, 58’), Simonetti (Giacinti, 68 ‘), Giugliano; Bonansea; Girelli (Sabatino, 80 ‘), Bertolini.
Belgium: Evrard; Vangheluwe (Deloose, 66′), Kees, Biesmans, Philtjens; Cayman (Kassandra, 90′) Vanhaervermaet, De Caigny; Dhont (Minnaert, 59′), Eurlings (Delacauw, 66′), Wullaert, Serneels.
Goals: 0-1, De Caigny, min 49.
Cards: Boattin, min 65.
Referee: Ivana Martincic (Croatia).
Spectators: 3.919 en el Manchester City Academy Stadium.