New Gen To Hunt Old Dreams

The much-revered Golden Generation era came to a disappointing end, but now Belgium boast a fresh set of players ready to take on a new challenge. While expectations are not as high as before, the team, led by the young Domenico Tedesco, has the potential to pack a punch and surprise many. Should their ambitions be tempered with realism, or can they achieve what the Golden Generation could not?

This tactical preview has been written by Rahul Madhavan.

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Since their third-place finish in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Belgium have faced some turbulent times. Roberto Martínez certainly maintained the high standards, but their goal of winning a major trophy with the Golden Generation repeatedly fell short in major tournaments.

The culmination of this struggle was a disappointing group stage exit in the most recent World Cup in Qatar, marking the end of both Martínez’s tenure and the Golden Generation’s prominence. The aftermath saw Belgium appoint 38-year-old Domenico Tedesco to lead a new generation, which was also bolstered by a few experienced heads from the Golden Gen. This decision has paid dividends so far. 

In the 2024 Euro Qualification, Belgium, paired with the likes of Austria and Sweden, secured six wins and two draws in eight games. Additional friendly victories over Germany and Serbia, along with a stalemate against England, undoubtedly displayed their ability to compete with top teams as well. While Belgium may not be favorites this time, they arrive with quite the glittering hope that they might achieve what the illustrious Golden Generation could not.

The squad and the shift in approach

The Golden Generation had top players in key positions, some of the best in the world, but they arguably lacked quality in certain areas compared to the elite teams. This lack of balance was evident during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Martínez frequently chopped his team in an effort to get the best out of his players. However, they now seem to have struck that balance, even if the quality of players varies across the squad. 

Surprisingly, Thibaut Courtois, who returned from a long-term injury to play in the Champions League final, has been excluded. Instead, Koen Casteels, Matz Sels, and Thomas Kaminski have been called up, with Tedesco confirming Casteels as his first choice. He has maintained a consistent preference for his back four over the past year, and is likely to start Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes, Jan Vertonghen, and Arthur Theate. The team also includes experienced backup, Thomas Meunier, and young defenders, Zeno Debast and Maxim De Cuyper.

Belgium’s midfield and the forward line are areas where they can rival top teams. Kevin De Bruyne, who has played sparingly under the new head coach, will captain the side and is a guaranteed starter, with Amadou Onana and Orel Mangala expected in a double pivot. Tedesco has several options in midfield, including Youri Tielemans, who will be pushing for a starting spot after impressive performances, while veteran Axel Witsel and young talents Arthur Vermeeren and Aster Vranckx will provide cover. 

Belgium’s strength in wide areas is also very notable, with numerous options on both flanks. Jérémy Doku, Johan Bakayoko, Leandro Trossard, Yannick Carrasco, and Dodi Lukebakio offer diverse skill sets, and are set to compete for two spots. Up front, Romelu Lukaku, Charles De Ketelaere, and Loïs Openda are in fine form, with Lukaku, the nation’s and Euro 2024 Qualification’s top-scorer, expected to lead the attack.

The significant change for Belgium is the contrast in playing styles under Martínez and Tedesco. Under the former, the team often used a back three, while being a possession-oriented side and preferring to build-up slowly from the back. The likes of De Bruyne and Hazard had the freedom to roam and interchange positions in the final third, relying on quick combinations to create chances. However, this approach sometimes made Belgium predictable, which became evident towards the end of Martínez’s tenure.

In contrast, Tedesco’s Belgium are more direct in the build-up phase, and frequently look to isolate wingers to create one-versus-one situations. They are also comfortable conceding possession and defending in a medium block against top teams, as highlighted by the fact that they had less than forty-five percent of the ball against England, Austria, and Germany. Counter-attacks have become a key source of chance creation as well, especially considering the De Bruyne-Lukaku combination and the pace of the wingers at their disposal.

Belgium’s pass map against Austria clearly shows Tedesco’s approach, emphasizing  on capitalizing on the strength of their wide players instead of playing through the middle. 

Reliance on directness and constant movement in possession 

The shift in approach from Martínez to Tedesco has certainly strengthened Belgium’s organization in defense and midfield. They conceded only four goals in the Euro Qualification rounds and were one of the few teams who allowed very few chances to their opponents. While this might vary in the Euro 2024, the team looks more structured now, while favoring a direct approach. 

During his tenure, Tedesco has employed a variety of systems, ranging from a traditional back-three to a more expansive 4-4-2 setup, with Lukaku and De Bruyne leading the line and given the freedom to drift wider. Recently, he has favored building up with a back three in possession, with left-back Theate dropping alongside the two center-backs. Castagne is given the license to advance, while the right winger usually inverts to form a traditional box midfield. But Belgium’s structure in the first and second phases consistently change based on the opponents’ pressing.

Against higher pressing teams, who typically jump with a front two, the back four drop deeper and stretch the pitch, while adopting a 5+2 structure (including the goalkeeper) in the first line. Their aim is to lure opponents into their own half, but instead of playing risky passes through the middle to bypass the press, they often use an outlet on the flank. 

This approach was quite evident against both England and Austria, where either the goalkeeper or Vertonghen would pick out Theate, who would then immediately open up his body to play a direct pass to Doku. Belgium rely heavily on the winger’s ability to protect the ball and turn into space with his back to goal. Once he receives it, the team looks to collapse on the ball-side to provide support. At times, they also play vertical passes to Lukaku, with Tedesco leveraging the forward’s strength in hold-up play to bring others into the attack.

Against teams that settle into a medium block, Belgium shift to a situational back three with two pivots in front of the center-backs. Occasionally, Tedesco has also utilized a 3+1 shape (with Onana as the deep-lying midfielder), adding an extra player up front to overload the front line. However, Belgium predominantly use the former structure, often employing an overload-to-isolate approach. Diagonal passes from the center-backs to the flanks are a common theme. They usually look to drag the opponent’s full-back with the movement of the player in the half-space, which in turn creates isolation for the winger. 

Belgium vs Sweden. Minute 13. Belgium look to overload the right side. When Faes receives the ball, they create a four-versus-three situation, with De Ketelaere’s movement pinning Cajuste. At the same time, Castagne drops deeper, pulling Forsberg with him and creating space for Tielemans. Once Belgium lure Sweden to the ball side, they quickly switch play to find the isolated Carrasco.

In the final third, Belgium use quick, coordinated, and interchangeable movements. The intention is to draw opponents into the middle of the park and then swiftly occupy the space vacated behind them. As a result, the front five’s movements are constant, which is a significant shift from Martínez’s approach. Positional rotations, especially on the right side where Castagne and De Bruyne operate, also play a crucial role in their chance creation mechanisms. Eventually, they move the ball wide and deliver early crosses into the penalty area, while committing numbers forward.

In the final third, they use a varied set of movements in the penalty area when delivering crosses. Lukaku typically draws the center-backs’ attention, while the far-sided winger targets the back post. Additionally, options for cut-backs are available, with one of the pivots or the far-sided winger himself moving into the zone. The ultimate objective is to commit numbers and offer a range of movements to provide options for the crosser.

Belgium vs Azerbaijan. Minute 16: The interchangeable movements and occupation of space. Bakayoko, who initially starts higher, drops deeper, pulling center-back Cafarguliyev with him. A coordinated movement from Mangala into the vacated space then draws his marker, Israfilov, along with Mahmudov, creating space for Faes to carry the ball into the middle of the pitch. As Isayev closes the passing lane to Lukaku, Trossard drops deeper to offer an option and receives on the half-turn, dragging Mammadov before playing in Lukaku.

Tedesco has primarily utilized the strength of his wingers, but with De Bruyne’s return, it will be interesting to see if Belgium begin to create chances through the middle as well. In the two games he played under Tedesco, the Manchester City man was given the freedom to roam and receive between the lines, which undoubtedly adds another dimension to their armor for the Euros.

Out of possession, strengths, and potential weakness 

Similar to his in possession tactics, Tedesco has employed various systems out of possession, yet the basic principles remain consistent. Under his management, Belgium are not particularly keen on pressing high and prefer to stay extremely compact in either a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 shape. This compactness and organization have been key to their success in the qualification rounds, as they force opponents wide before executing a coordinated, man-oriented press.

Typically, they have started with a 4-5-1 shape, with the ball-sided central midfielder pressing the ball carrier while the wingers stay narrow to prevent any space between the lines. Against lower-ranked opponents, they have pressed aggressively, but it would be surprising to see this approach in the Euros, given Tedesco’s preference for maintaining numbers behind the ball to protect the goal.

While this approach has been largely successful, Belgium’s potential weaknesses also lie out of possession. England, for instance, frequently overloaded their midfield, and once Belgium’s compactness was broken, they struggled to defend their penalty area. Another issue is dealing with runs in behind their defense. Austria’s directness here caused problems during the qualification rounds, while both Germany and England also exploited this approach. The lack of pace at the back is a concern, resulting in a heavy reliance on their midfield to protect the space in front of the back four. 

Minute 25: England vs Belgium. Tielemans initiates the press when Konsa has the ball, but Lukaku is slow to close down Rice, allowing him time and space to pick out a pass. Mainoo’s movement pulls Onana slightly wider, and with Doku not narrow enough, Rice threads a pass to Toney, who drifts into midfield. When it reaches Bowen, Belgium’s lack of pace at the back is exposed as Bellingham immediately makes a run behind Vertonghen, nearly setting up Toney with a cut-back.

In terms of strengths, Belgium’s midfield now possesses a balance they previously lacked. Onana typically plays as the deepest midfielder, has a solid technical base, and ability to cover ground alongside Mangala to cover the weakness of Belgium’s backline. De Bruyne, who needs no introduction, thrives with the freedom he is given, while Tielemans provides strong depth across all three positions.

Tedesco’s approach is also highly flexible, allowing him to adapt to opponents. Belgium can sit in a medium block, invite pressure, and then have the potential to strike on the counterattack. They have the capability to dominate possession and break down stubborn defenses as well, thanks to the quality of their attack. This versatility suits the squad dynamics, especially in knockout competitions. 

Takeaways 

Belgium are paired with Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine in Group E. They are expected not only to qualify for the knockout rounds but also to top the group. There is a newfound hunger within the squad, especially with the influx of younger players, while the experience of De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco, Vertonghen, and Lukaku will undoubtedly be invaluable. 

Following the World Cup disappointment and subsequent rebuilding process, expectations for Belgium are modest this time around, which could eventually benefit them, as it reduces pressure. While they may lack the quality to rival the very best teams, this Belgium side compensate it with a balanced outfit and a determined, hungry young core. They certainly have the potential to surprise a few and the expectation will be to reach at least the quarterfinals.

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