Euro 2016: How Italy will deal with threat of Belgium’s Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne
Italy have so much experience it’s frightening with the likes of Gigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini keeping out the goals
ITALY have so much experience it’s frightening.
Look at the defence. Gigi Buffon in goal, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
You think they add up to 200 years between them. And you think they’ve PLAYED together for 200 years!
Italy are a tournament team and the Juventus experience at the back that Antonio Conte put together is legendary. Buffon wants to kill every record going, still.
But I think they’re going to make the same mistake they did in their opening game four years ago, starting with three at the back when they would be better with four.
I THINK Italy will end up playing a back five because of worries about Belgium, with Matteo Darmian and Alessandro Florenzi dropping back in as well.
As soon as Belgium get the ball they will revert to a five. I see Daniele De Rossi and Thiago Motta dropping off too, as well as Lorenzo Insigne and Antonio Candreva, who are wide attacking midfielders.
The Italians are smart and they will try to get tight to Eden Hazard, hit him a few times, see if he fancies a physical game.
It means he has to be prepared to drop off as well, to interchange with Kevin De Bruyne.
Hazard has to be ready to play across the front line rather than being static.
Italy are experienced but Belgium will surely go further.
BELGIUM are a wonderful attacking side with some great players.
Kevin De Bruyne is the key. I really like him. He gives them the movement, goes the right way, knows when to give the right pass and can make the difference — even more so than Eden Hazard.
Belgium must not make the mistake of risking everything from the beginning.
If they can tempt the Italians out, then they can exploit the space.
RADJA NAINGGOLAN should screen the defence — and he reminds me a little of a younger me.
Certainly defensively, even if he might not make the same impression coming forward with the ball that I did on my good days!
Along with De Bruyne, the pair are the leaders. If Belgium were an orchestra, De Bruyne would be the violin and Nainggolan the drums!
The problem is not too many of them like to work back, which might make them vulnerable, especially without Vincent Kompany. That is the thing that makes me more pessimistic then I’d otherwise be.
Italy chief Conte is one of the best tactical coaches and he’ll try to catch them on the counter.
Related stories
