After Turkey crashed out, Belgium are at serious risk becoming the second major disappointment of this World Cup.
The Red Devils aren’t out of the tournament yet, although the 0-0 draw against Iran puts Roberto Martinez’s team in a very awkward position. Now, they may well need to win their third and final group match in order to stay alive.
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Saelemaekers struggles
Alexis Saelemaekers started against Iran on the right side, but was substituted in the 58th minute, replaced by Lukebakio. The match then became incredibly difficult for the Belgians after Ngoy’s red card in the 66th minute.
In their player ratings published after the game, GOAL gave Saelemaekers a 5 out of 10: “Showed good technique when he picked up possession, but rarely produced anything in terms of final ball or a shot. Replaced before the hour mark.”
In terms of numbers in the nearly 60 minutes played by Saelemaekers, he completed 16/22 passes (73%), had two shots, 34 touches, 2/5 successful dribbles, lost possession 10 times, won a tackle and 3/7 ground duels.
Milan’s other representative in the Belgian national team was the central defender Koni De Winter, but he remained on the bench for the entire match. Now, we must see if Martinez shakes things up to try and get something more out of his team.
“Showed good technique when he picked up possession, but rarely produced anything in terms of final ball or a shot.”
checks out.
Ben dixon called him Flawless all season
Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve watched totally different matches.
Maybe you value optics. But they are irrelevant. If someone looks good with the ball but does nothing he is useless. Saelemakers didn’t do anything in this game.
Usually I don’t. I try to combine all things – with or without ball, defense or offense – what a player does.
But it doesn’t matter. My Focus is on our today’s win against ARG. hehehe.
I think it could be a draw easily. I think you played only once in history and it was a draw.
Disappointing. At least a draw would have been easily possible. Shat their pants instead :-/
Sell him in the summer and buy an actual beastly rwb which we deffo need for Amorims system
Who do you suggest?
“The Red Devils aren’t out of the tournament yet, although the 0-0 draw against Iran puts Roberto Martinez’s team in a very awkward position”
Umm Roberto Martinez is Portugal’s coach. Rudi Garcia is Belgium’s coach.
Also salad did ok it the whole Belgium was flat. Salad made some good runs though
He plays for Belgium the same way he plays for Milan. Good at advancing the ball until he gets close to the penalty box and then is either dispossessed or runs into traffic. On defense, his immaturity at going to the ground at the slightest contact remains. The World Cup referees are allowing incidental contact and players like Salad are left jerking around on the ground while play has moved on. Would like him for the bench with a more complete and mature player starting on the right side.