Belgium started their Euro 2024 preparations with a plausible 2-0 victory over Montenegro in a friendly match on Wednesday. Even if it was comfortable, the result gave Domenico Tedesco a few things to think about as his team gets ready for the tournament in Germany.
Match report: A Winning Start, But Room for Improvement
Kevin De Bruyne, back from a hamstring injury and playing his first game after over a year representing Belgium, opened the scoring in Brussels by taking one look up and smashing home. Leandro Trossard added an injury-time penalty to seal it for the host, but for the bulk of the game, Belgium was a long way from reeling off a convincing assertion of authority by the Red Devils.
While Belgium opened the more robust, they were thoroughly tested by Montenegro, particularly their English-born goalkeeper, Matija Sarkic, who had an outstanding game. Belgium took their foot off the gas in a second half that saw them come out with less intensity; the visitors struggled to keep the structure despite many subs.
Tedesco Learns From The Win: “We Can Build On This”
I learnt a lot today, and with all of the changes, I couldn’t maintain the same structure after the break, Tedesco explained. We had a difficult time getting started with the game. But after about 75 minutes, things improved again.
Tedesco pointed to the difficulties of realizing his vision with a team in a frequent state of change. He was positive in looking at the overall work and marked it as a base for further development: “There were good moments, but there were also moments that could, of course, have been better. But we can build on this”.
De Bruyne’s Return: Milestone and Positive Inspiration
De Bruyne was a happy man to be back on the pitch. I’m glad to be back; it’s been a long time, he explained. It’s a pleasure to play my 100th cap in Belgium. This is a fantastic start, and it was enjoyable to score.
However, the Manchester City midfielder said that returning to the club after such a lengthy absence would be difficult. We deservedly led in the first half, but after the interval, things became more difficult owing to substitutions. Thus, it’s important that we get into a rhythm and get some automation into our play. It takes some adjusting for me, too, as I’ve not played much with the team until now, he said.
Looking Ahead: Adjustments and Confidence
Tedesco plays another warm-up match against Luxembourg on Saturday before flying to Euro 2024. The coach wants to use the game to have Romelu Lukaku fit back into the team after missing the game against Montenegro with a minor injury. He also hinted at additional adjustments to his team’s strategy and playing style. Although the performance was less than perfect against Montenegro, the win of the Belgians boosted some much-needed confidence. With several of his key players coming out from the recuperation room after injuries and hungry to perform in the upcoming tournament, a good show might be staged by the Red Devils at Euro 2024. It now remains to Tedesco to get them there in time for the game.
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