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Group A: Belgium 1-0 Estonia

Game Summary​

  • Belgium dominated possession and territory, spending the majority of the game in Estonia's half

  • Belgium consistently looked to progress and create chances in wide areas, using combinations between the wingers and FBs, with CMs also moving wide to support and overload 

  • Belgium goal came from a typical attacking pattern:

    • Work possession side-to-side to shift opposition block and isolate far-side wingback to create either a 1v1 or 2v1 opportunity out wide

    • In this instance, Belgium #10 (LW) beat the Estonia RWB in a 1v1 before cutback assist 

  • Estonia worked hard defensively but struggled to progress possession from their own 3rd, with their deep build-up shape often leaving too many players behind the ball before eventually going long when no advantages generated

Starting Line-Ups​

  • Belgium: 4-4-2 in possession & 4-4-2 (1st Half) / 4-1-4-1 (2nd Half) out of possession

  • Estonia: 3-5-2 in possession & 5-3-2 out of possession

EU17_ Belgium vs Estonia_scene1_202608051448.png

Belgium Observations

 

In Possession

  • Due to prolonged spells of possession in Estonia half, Belgium's shape shifted into 4-1-5 or 4-2-4
  • In build-up, FBs initially positioned deeper, as that's where the space was versus Estonia 5-3-3
  • This tactic enabled Belgium comfortable ball circulation along their backline, shifting Estonia side-to-side as a result, creating opportunities to isolate the far-side WB for 1v1 or 2v1 attacks (typically a FB arrives late to overlap or underlap the winger in final 3rd)
  • Focused their attacks in wide areas, using combinations between the wingers and FBs, with CMs also moving out to support and create overloads​

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Out of Possession

  • 4-4-2 in the 1st Half, becoming 4-1-4-1 in the 2nd Half

  • In the 1st Half, slightly more passive and often formed a high/mid-block

  • More aggressive in 2nd Half, actively looking to regain possession higher up the pitch as Estonia repeatedly attempted to play out from the back

  • Estonia's tendency to circulate possession in their own 3rd provided Belgium with repeated opportunities to press and force turnovers

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Players

  • #12 (GK) - Lowie Piselé

    • No notes

  • #2 (RB) - Sami El Morabet

    • Willing off-ball runner who provided overlap and underlap support on RW

  • #14 (RCB) - Léni Strouwen

    • Limited defensive involvement due to the game context

    • In possession, helped maintain circulation in the backline

  • #3 (LCB) - Elie Mbavu (C)

    • Limited defensive involvement due to the game context.

    • In possession, helped maintain circulation in the backline

    • 1st Half: Caught in possession when attempting to use a feint to evade pressure. Executed the action too early, allowing the opponent to anticipate and regain

  • #5 (LB) - Assil Saidi

    • Willing off-ball runner who provided overlap and underlap support on LW

    • Delivered multiple out-swinging crosses from deeper, left half-space (mixed success)

  • #13 (RW) - Rayan Garcia Belkacem

    • Left-footed

    • Combined with #2 on RW, including finding the RB's underlapping run at 18', which led to a corner

    • More attacking involvement in 2nd Half - example at 60th min

    • 62:30: Showed quick footwork and close control to outplay pressure before attacking the opponent on the outside and attempting a cutback with his weaker right foot, which was blocked.

  • #16 (RCM) - Rune Verstrepen

    • Typically operated as the deepest CM and helped maintain possession through side-to-side circulation

  • #15 (LCM) - Noah Kaouni

    • Caught the eye between 35-40' with his movement to create separation and link-up play in tight, central areas

    • Offered support both below and beyond the ball

    • 35-45 mins: Executed several positive forward passes, including a longer-range through ball between the defensive lines and a punch pass to break the midfield line

    • Scored 1-0

    #10 (LW) - Joshua Nga Kana

    • Right-footed

    • Frequently moved inside and into deeper areas to receive, with team-mates regularly looking to find him (positive indicator)

    • 24:17: Carried inside before playing a through ball into a runner, showing good vision and weight of pass

    • 26:20: Attacked on the outside from LW before cutting the ball back from the byline. Showed acceleration over a short distance to beat opponent

    • 0-30 mins: Made runs in behind from inside-to-out positions

    • 0-40 mins: Several shots were weak or off target

    • 39:59: Assisted the opening goal. Beat the defender on the outside before showing good awareness and weight of pass to cutback for #15 to finish first time. Showed acceleration over a short distance

    #20 (RCF) - Yhanis Onehese

    • No significant notes

    • Limited involvement as the majority of Belgium's attacking play came through the wide areas

    • Primarily provided a presence centrally and inside the box

  • #18 (LCF) - Noa Ojea

    • Left-footed

    • No significant notes

    • Limited involvement as the majority of Belgium's attacking play came through the wide areas

    • Primarily provided a presence centrally and inside the box

  • Substitutions:

    • #4: On for #3 at HT. No notes

    • #11: On for #10 at 68 mins. Showed some of his previously observed trickery - quick feet and body feints to beat opponents

    • #7: On for #13 at 68 mins. No notes

    • #8: On for #15 at 68 mins. No notes

    • #9: On for #18 at 88 mins. No notes

Estonia Observations

 

In Possession

  • Spent a lot of time in their own 3rd, with limited success progressing up the pitch

  • Persisted with playing out from the back despite repeated turnovers

  • Often had too many players behind the ball, limiting forward passing options and support around the ball when going long (2nds) which they inevitably did but without having created an advantage e.g. having numerical parity versus the backline or isolating a defender 1v1.

  • 46:40: Good example of the issue at the start of the 2nd Half — Estonia circulated the ball with numerous players deep but were unable to progress, eventually losing possession.

  • Another build-up issue was that Belgium consistently locked Estonia onto one side of the pitch from GKs, one reason for this was because the GK always passed to one CB so easy for Belgium CF (#9) to know where and how to press and teammates behind to follow

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Out of Possession

  • 5-3-2 - spent the majority of the game in a low block which made it difficult to regain possession and initiate dangerous counterattacks (large distances to get into the opposition half or near goal)

  • Worked hard collectively and individually, continuously stuck to their defensive task but constantly forced into shifting across the pitch (physically demanding), creating spaces and opportunities for Belgium to attack on the far-side (weak-side)

  • System match-up made it easy for Belgium to circulate (control) in front of them and progress around

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Players​

​No player notes due to game context, focus naturally leaned towards Belgium

  • #1 (GK) - Harly Ollin​

  • #14 (RWB) - Ronn Neltsas​

  • #4 (RCB) - Kregor Kalvik​

  • #3 (CCB) - Ronald Sammul​

  • #5 (LCB) - Uku Nõmm​

  • #17 (LWB) - Karel Isok​

  • #6 (RCM) - Jaron Silm​

  • #10 (CM) - Robert Mihhalevski​

  • #21 (LCM) - Andero Kaares (C)​

  • #18 (CF) - Robert Lehtmets​

  • #13 (CF) - Aston Visse​

  • Substitutions:

    • #8: On for #21 at 23 mins

    • #23: On for #17 at HT

    • #11: On for #18 at 68 mins

    • #9: On for #13 at 68 mins

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