The journey continues to the semi-finals: Italy & Belgium tactical analysis.
In the quarter-finals top match, A tactical battle between managers and each manager has questions he should answer to reach to semi-final, So how Roberto Mancini and Roberto Martinez answer and solve his opponent questions.
Without the ball, Belgium with Martinez defend with 7 players only, leaving the front trio to make dangerous transitions by exploiting space behind opponents fullbacks.
and the first question was here, If he will take the same approach against Italy and If yes, How will he adapt with Insigne and Barella positions with 2 midfielders only.
Belgium’s marking duties.
-KDB marking Bonucci and covershadow Jorginho.
-Lukaku marking Chiellini.
-Doku marking Di Lorenzo.
-Witsel marking Barella & Tielmans marking Verratti.
-Meunier marking Spina.
-Hazard marking Chiesa.
In progression phase, Italy created many issues for Belgium’s midfield, Barella moved to the wing, Witsel can’t track him to not empty the midfield, so Italy can deliver the ball to higher position easily.
Here KDB didn’t covershadow his marker (Jorginho), so he is an available passing option to Donnarumma.
Jorgi without aggressive pressing.
Insigne dropped to receive the ball from Jorgi and Alder. didn’t have instructions to follow Insigne and he didn’t support his midfield.
Because of Spinazzola positioning Meunier cannot to press on Insigne.
Insigne received the ball In acres of space to dribble.
By his skills he had no problems with Tielemans delay, and he can easily bypass him, And the rest you know well.
Italy tactically could progress easily through Belgian block.
-Again, ST didn’t covershadow Jorginho, Witsel marking Barella and Tielemans marking Verratti.
And with Bonucci’s passing ability, he could pass the ball to Immobile who dropped to receive the ball in the space between midfield and defense.
Belgium decided to press high in the 2nd half.
Marking duties mentioned in the image.
-Doku & Lukaku marking CBs.
-[4v3] situation in defense.
-And with Bonucci’s passing abilities he could switch the play to Spinazzola who was totally free and broke Belgian pressing.
See how KDB was frustrated.
Also, Italy excelled without the ball against Belgium build-up, and Mancini could answer Belgium build-up question.
In high pressing phase.
-Immobile marked Vermaelen.
-Insigne marked Alder.
-Spinazzola was ready to step to press when the ball went to Thomas.
-Verratti marked Tielemans.
-Jorginho marked KDB who dropped to receive the ball.
-Barella marked Witsel.
-[3v2] Situation in defense.
Chiellini always anticipate the ball, and Bonucci covered him, Jorgi & Verratti dropped to support the defense in 2nd balls, so Belgium can’t find their target man to play long ball on him and Mancini could isolate him in build-up.
Again, another example how Italy could control Belgium’s build-up.
Martinez was betting on his offensive transitions, and gave it more importance than defending duties for the front trio, So Was it get its worth?
Actually, yes, he could create some chances from transitions by making [3v3] situations.
After intercepting the ball, passing the ball to KDB and [3v3] situiation.
- Lukaku moved opposite to KDB run to give Kevin more space by pull Chiellini and allow him to be closer to the goal.
-KDB shot and Donnarumma saved it.
Another example, Kevin intercepted the ball and could bypass Jorginho
[3v3] situation, pass the ball to Lukaku and Donnarumma saved it.
After the midfield intercept the ball, they passed the ball to Doku, KDB run in the half space, made a cross, and the most dangerous chance created, Lukaku missed it.
In the final third phase, They build most of their attack on playing the ball to Doku in [1v1] situation, who positioned widely and dribble with the ball inside to shot and he could to make 8 successful dribbles from 13.
In progression phase, in the most of their trials they couldn’t progress the ball because of marking passing options to CBs.
After 74mins, Praet & Mertens In, and they shaped 3–3–4 and Mertens dropped to create numerical advantage in the midfield, but they can’t score the equaliser.
At the end, Italy could bypass Belgium and reach to semi-finals against Spain and Enrique has a lot of questions he should solve to reach the final.
