Tactical Analysis – Belgium Gets First Win Against Romania – Euro 2024

Belgium bounced back from their surprising defeat against Slovakia in the first match by defeating Romania 2-0. Belgium entered the match as the favorites, given the quality of their squad and the experience of their key players. With 55% possession and an xG of 1.8 from 20 shots, nine of which were on target, Belgium deserved the victory.

Despite the loss, Romania performed very well, taking 14 shots with an xG of 0.83. All four teams in the group now have three points each going into the final round of matches, making the competition extremely exciting.

Starting Lineups

Belgium made several significant changes for this match compared to their surprising defeat against Slovakia. Youri Tielemans, who came on as a substitute in the first match, started to strengthen the midfield after recovering from a hamstring injury. Jan Vertonghen, at 37 years old, was once again present in defense, becoming the third oldest player to appear for Belgium in a major tournament.

Romania had a notable change from their victory against Ukraine. Mihăilă was introduced instead of Coman, while Dennis Man retained his place in the team following his remarkable performance in the first match, where he contributed two assists. Man has been the top scorer and assist provider for Romania since Edward Iordănescu was appointed as the coach in January 2022.

Explosive Start: Belgium Sets the Pace

Belgium started the match strongly, scoring in the 2nd minute through Youri Tielemans. The goal came after a well-executed play where Lukaku received the ball in the box, held onto it, and passed to the edge of the area, where Tielemans struck powerfully into the net. This early goal set the tone for the rest of the first half.

Belgium dominated the game in the first 45 minutes, holding 69% possession. They were consistently dangerous, taking 10 shots, with four on target, generating an xG of 0.7. Tielemans was the key in midfield, with 45 touches and completing 36 out of 40 passes.

Romania had a few attempts to respond, with six shots and an xG of 0.37. The most notable moments came on the counterattack, but the Belgian defense, coordinated by veterans Vertonghen and Faes, was solid. Mihăilă and Man were among the most active Romanian players, trying to break through the Belgian defense.

A crucial moment was the Belgian goalkeeper’s save from Drăgușin’s header, maintaining the score at 1-0. Romania tried to keep the pressure up, but Belgium controlled the game well, reducing the clear chances for their opponents.

Towards the end of the half, the game became more intense, with many fouls, but only one yellow card was issued to Lukebakio, meaning he will miss Belgium’s next match.

Romania Comes Back Strong, But Belgium Maintains Their Lead

In the second half, Romania came out from the locker room with a much more offensive attitude. Although Belgium dominated the first half, Romania managed to take control of possession, holding 54% in the first 30 minutes of the second half compared to 31% in the first half.

In the early minutes after the break, Romania created several notable chances. Mihăilă made a dangerous run through the Belgian defense but sent the ball over the goal. Man also had a dangerous long-range shot, but Casteels made a successful save.

Belgium responded in the 53rd minute when De Bruyne’s shot went just wide of the goal. In the 57th minute, another crucial moment came when De Bruyne sent a dangerous cross in front of the goal, but Doku failed to make contact to push it into Niță’s net.

Romania continued to press, and in the 69th minute, Man had a huge chance to equalize, but the Belgian goalkeeper made an exceptional save. Belgium quickly responded, and in the 80th minute, De Bruyne scored the decisive goal. After a long clearance from goalkeeper Casteels, De Bruyne collected the ball and bypassed the Romanian defense, finishing to make it 2-0.

Despite Romania’s efforts, Belgium managed to maintain control and preserve the scoreline. Romania had a few late opportunities but failed to convert them. In the 90+4 minute, the match ended with a 2-0 victory for Belgium, a well-deserved win based on their tactical efficiency and the individual performances of key players.

Belgium Overloads the Left Wing

In the first half, Belgium’s attack heavily focused on Romania’s left flank, aiming to create numerical superiority and put Nicușor Bancu in difficult one-on-one situations against Lukebakio. This strategy was likely chosen because Nicușor Bancu is perceived as more vulnerable compared to Andrei Rațiu on the opposite flank.

Thus, Tedesco aimed to overload Romania’s left flank, with Youri Tielemans advancing into that area to form a triangle with Lukebakio and Castagne. This created three-on-two situations against Mihăilă and Nicușor Bancu. Romelu Lukaku primarily positioned himself in Andrei Burcă’s area to prevent him from intervening and assisting on the left flank.

Of course, Jeremy Doku also caused some problems on the right flank, but the situation was a bit different there. Since Arthur Theate stayed back more and did not advance like Castagne, the pressure came from Doku’s individual skills, paired with Kevin De Bruyne. However, Andrei Rațiu, along with Dennis Man and Radu Drăgușin, managed to keep things under control in that area.

Kevin De Bruyne is Inevitable

With 68 touches, 3 key passes, 3 shots on target (tied with Romelu Lukaku and Dennis Man), and one goal, Kevin De Bruyne was Belgium’s most important player in this match. In the offensive phase, De Bruyne positioned himself between the lines, with Romania focusing on covering the passing lanes to him.

De Bruyne was very dangerous when he managed to receive the ball between the lines and launch his teammates using his creativity and passing skills. His positioning on the field was fluid, not limited to a specific area. Thus, we saw De Bruyne both between Romania’s defensive lines, dropping back to receive the ball and play the role of playmaker, and running wide to support Jeremy Doku, offering a back pass option for crossing when Doku penetrated the Romanian box.

Another important role for De Bruyne was during transitions, where he successfully exploited the spaces left by Romania’s defense. He sprinted to occupy and quickly attack the areas left open by the forward movements of Andrei Rațiu or Nicușor Bancu.

Romania’s Build Up and Offence

In the offensive phase, Romania did not choose to build from the back but opted for Niță’s clearances towards the wingers Dennis Man and Valentin Mihăilă. Dennis Man was the most advanced player for the national team, constantly waiting to be launched on the right flank.

While Romania had only 31% possession in the first half, they dictated the pace of the game in the second half with 61% possession. The greatest threat came from the wingers and attacking the wide areas of the penalty box. Launching balls behind the high defensive line towards the midfield was Romania’s main threat, showing no lack of creativity. Despite generating an xG of 0.94, Romania unfortunately failed to score.

Notable Performances in Romania’s Defense

We must highlight the exceptional performance of Florin Niță in this match. Belgium had an xG of 1.76, and Florin Niță prevented 1.21 goals, meaning he stopped more than half of Belgium’s significant scoring opportunities. He made 7 important saves and completed 22 out of 33 passes.

In defense, Andrei Burcă also delivered a notable performance, tasked with the difficult job of marking Lukaku. Burcă won 6 out of 7 duels, blocked two shots, and made 3 tackles.

Conclusions

Belgium secured an important 2-0 victory over Romania, bouncing back after their defeat to Slovakia. Goals from Tielemans and De Bruyne demonstrated Belgium’s tactical superiority.

Belgium dominated the game with greater possession and more shots on target. The performances of Lukaku, Tielemans, and De Bruyne were crucial, and the defense, led by Vertonghen, held strong. Romania showed determination in the second half, creating dangerous chances through Mihăilă and Man. Although they didn’t score, they demonstrated potential and put up a good fight.

The result leaves all teams in the group tied, each with three points. Belgium will approach the next match with confidence, while Romania must maintain their high level to qualify.

4o