Game two of Group E is do-or-die for one of these nations, but not the one expected at the start of the tournament.
By Karl Matchett
Romania’s magnificent performance against Ukraine earned them admirers, three points and half a foot in the last 16 of Euro 2024, but another step up again will be required against a team who will surely amount a response of some kind, following Belgium’s dismal showing and narrow defeat to Slovakia.
No doubt plenty will point to two disallowed goals for Belgium. Valid, but irrelevant: they created too little, looked ill-suited to the system with the chosen personnel, were too tame and hesitant in their buildup play, didn’t get Kevin De Bruyne into particularly threatening areas often enough and have real concerns over their defensive partnerships.
Wout Faes individually was poor; he was too impetuous, lacked consistency and wasted possession far too often. Faes is six years older than Zeno Debast but played like the rookie: he won just one of three tackles, played eight long balls but found his mark only twice, lost four of his ten ground duels and three of five in the air.
That said, he was far from the only reason for defeat for Belgium, with the likes of Johan Bakayoko and Youri Tielemans perhaps set for inclusion after trying to inject guile and pace from the bench last time out. Improvements are needed all over the park, else they face a second straight humiliation in group stage exits at major tournaments.
Romania must remain wary, all the same. There’s obviously enough technical ability in that Belgium side to simply step up, create a dozen chances and sweep them aside, particularly if any of the effort, off-the-ball running and team unity from that first win over Ukraine is absent in their second game.
Wondergoals made the match and result even more fantastic for their fans, but it was that far greater endeavour and much better gameplan which really saw Romania topple their opponents throughout.
Dennis Man was a standout from the right wing, creating three chances, assisting two goals, very nearly scoring one of his own with a curling shot just wide. But to highlight individuals is to ignore the essence of their success. Man’s partnership with right-back Andrei Ratiu was crucial, in both directions. Radu Drăgușin was astonishingly good at centre-back, celebrating blocks and covering for teammates wherever needed. Denis Drăguș lead the line well in attack, but covered in for his midfielders too when required. This is what they need once more against Belgium, where they’ll likely have less possession, fewer chances to sustain pressure…and more expectation on them now, too.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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