Original title: The European Cup quarter-finals will start: Belgium has a disorganized lineup and Italy is worth optimistic about
Belgian lineup is not complete, Italy is worth looking forward to
The European Cup quarter-finals will stage a heavyweight duel tomorrow morning, Belgium will face Italy (CCTV Sports, Guangdong Sports live broadcast at 3 o’clock), this contest at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, is like the final staged in advance.
Belgian loser
Belgium won three matches in the group stage. The 1/8 final defeated the previous champion Portugal 1-0, and Hazard scored a world wave. As the world‘s No. 1 team, Belgium suffered a heavy loss in the last game. The two offensive souls De Bruyne and Hazard were replaced by injuries.
De Blau internally injured his ankle and Hazard suffered a muscle injury. The two superstars are training alone. Whether they can come back in time is still unknown. If De Bruyne and Hazard cannot return, the two attacking midfielders behind center Lukaku will be replaced by Carrasco and Mertens. Lukaku and Mertens are both playing in Serie A. This game will meet many old Serie A opponents, as well as their respective teammates in Inter Milan and Naples.
It is worth noting that the Belgian coach Martinez does not seem to be very confident in the substitute players, resulting in a greater consumption of the main force. “Little Warcraft” Lukaku played the entire game in three of the four European Cup matches, and was only replaced when the third round of the group stage was approaching the end. In the 1/8 final against Portugal, Martinez only made three substitutions, replacing De Bruyne and Hazard with Mertens and Carrasco, all of which were passive substitutions due to injuries. Another substitution appeared in the 5th minute of stoppage time. Dendon Kerr replaced the scoring hero Hazard. In other words, most of Belgium’s main players did not get a rest in the last game.
The first three defenders in Belgium’s last game, Vermaelen, Vertonghen, and Aldweirelder are all too old, and their combined age is over 101 years old. It is worth questioning whether the consecutive battles can withstand it. However, Martinez did not trust the other two younger central defenders very much. Boyata and Denayer did not get a chance to play in the 1/8 finals.
Italy prepares for battle
With center-back Chiellini and right-back Florenzi returning from injury, Italian coach Mancini now has no injured players and can prepare for this focus match.
Mancini led the team to play offensive football. Although Italy does not have a superstar, the difference between the main force and the substitute is not big, which often makes opponents hard to defend. Italy eliminated Austria 2-1 after overtime in the 1/8 finals, but because most of the main players got a rest in the third round of the group stage, the physical consumption was not very large.
The right winger Chiesa played very well off the bench last time and scored a goal that broke the deadlock. This game may start to replace Berardi and form a strike partner with Immobile and Insigne. Italy’s midfield competition is also fierce, and Verratti has the upper hand in the competition with Locatelli. Atlanta midfielder Persina scored the winning goal last time off the bench and may continue to serve as a super substitute. Central defender Chiellini is the captain of Italy and can only compete with Archerby for the starting position. At the right-back position, Mertens’s Napoli teammate Di Lorenzo has a greater chance of starting, and Florenzi, who has returned from injury, is waiting for the opportunity on the bench.
In the last European Cup group stage, Italy beat Belgium 2-0. When the two sides confronted again, Belgium’s lineup was disorganized, and Italy had a psychological advantage, so Italy is worth optimistic about this game.
Source: Yangcheng Evening News
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