Wasteful Finishing, Defensive Standoff: France Edges Belgium in Edgy Dogfight

The highly anticipated Euro 2024 clash between France and Belgium was anything but predictable.  Both teams, known for their contrasting styles, surprised everyone with uncharacteristic tactical approaches.

 France, usually a force in attack, prioritized a defensive approach, while Belgium's creative spark seemed to be missing despite their focus on control.  Despite missed chances on both sides, the match remained tense throughout, ultimately decided by a late own goal

France: Deschamps Prioritizes Defense, But Will Fans Be Satisfied?

France's footballing identity was always about attacking fireworks. They traditionally prioritize quick passing, movement, and technical skills. Their midfield boasts a rich history of playmakers dictating attacks with creativity. Speedy wingers  use their dribbling skills and finishing ability to exploit space on the flanks and create scoring opportunities. France thrives on individual brilliance from its attackers, relying on their star power to overwhelm defenses.

Didier Deschamps, the ever-demanding manager of France, faced criticism after their group stage showing lacked attacking fluency. Despite boasting attacking talents like Kylian Mbappé, they relied heavily on set pieces for goals. 

 Deschamps prioritized defensive solidity in a clear tactical shift against Belgium, a stark contrast to their usual attacking approach. While effective in securing the win, this pragmatic strategy might not sit well with some fans who prefer their team to play with more attacking flair. The return of Mbappé, even if not fully fit, provided a much-needed attacking threat. 

France adopted a patient approach under Deschamps' guidance, waiting for an opportunity to strike. This tactic ultimately paid off with a late own goal from Belgium securing their victory. 

Did Deschamps find a winning formula, or will fans continue to yearn for their team's attacking swagger ? or Is Deschamps showing teams that his teams can be this resilient?

Belgium: Signs of Improvement Under Tedesco, But Questions Remain on future

Belgium's approach is more methodical. They possess the ball with a focus on patient build-up play. Utilizing a possession-based strategy, they wear down opponents with short passes and positional play. Their "golden generation"  thrived in a creative midfield hub, orchestrating attacks with intelligent passing and movement.

Modern Belgian teams often utilize attacking full-backs who overlap wingers to provide additional width and options in attack. Their style revolves less around individual brilliance and more on overall team control and dictating the game's tempo.

Domenico Tedesco, the relatively new manager tasked with reviving Belgium's golden generation, had his work cut out for him after their disappointing group stage.  They lacked their usual attacking creativity, with Romelu Lukaku failing to find the net and Kevin De Bruyne not at his best. Their passing could have been more consistent, and they struggled to build clear goal-scoring chances.

However, against France, there were signs of life under Tedesco's leadership. Their passing was sharper, and they displayed more attacking intent, putting pressure on the French defense. 

Defensively, they were more solid, managing a clean sheet against a strong opponent. This shift in tactics compared to the group stage hinted at a potential return to form for Belgium.

Nevertheless, despite the improvements, Belgium still lacked the cutting edge in attack. They created chances but failed to capitalize on them. The question remains whether this tactical adjustment is sustainable under Tedesco, or if it was a one-off performance brought on by the knockout stage pressure. 

Can Tedesco unlock his team's attacking potential in the future despite this crushing narrow defeat?

LOOKING AHEAD
France's manager, Deschamps, faces a tactical dilemma. Will he stick with the pragmatic approach that secured victory, or will he try to reintroduce their attacking flair against a Portugal side also struggling to find the net? Despite boasting a talented young generation alongside the ever-reliable Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal has relied heavily on clean sheets to progress. This clash promises to be a battle of contrasting styles: France's newfound defensive solidity versus Portugal's organized approach, with both teams looking to rediscover their attacking spark.