Tielemans’ quick opener, the great counter with Lukaku and the same Tielemans in the leading role. The Devilish highlights at Wembley mainly took place before half time. Yet Domenico Tedesco thought his team was a lot better in the second half. Why did the national coach think that and made adjustments before the break? The difference between the two halves explained.
LOOK. Why Belgium came out stronger after the break than before
Minute 44, Wembley Stadium. While Onana is being treated for a head injury, Domenico Tedesco sees his opportunity to make serious adjustments. Lukaku, Doku, Trossard, Castagne, Tielemans, Mangala: they all have to pass the national coach on the sidelines. Of course he doesn’t do that without reason. “We often lost the ball too quickly before the break. We could have easily countered a few more times in the first half. We had to show more courage, bravery,” Tedesco explained afterwards his dissatisfaction with the first half, despite the 1-2 lead.
What supports Tedesco’s view: the Belgians delivered an eye-catching counter-attack for Tielemans’ second goal, but there was also quite a bit of impurity before half-time. Sels’ weak play-in pass to Onana, surprisingly not punished by Bellingham, is the biggest example. Theate and Debast have already been caught making a mistake – it even almost led to the latter’s own goal. The buffer in midfield also failed every now and then, as our football chief Niels Poissonnier noted.
As a result, Belgium was vulnerable more than once before half time: in addition to the above phases, Toney startled the Devils after just one minute, there was Bowen’s disallowed goal and Sels also had to fall flat on shots from the same Bowen and Bellingham. Some good counter opportunities were also left unused, long balls did not arrive. The signal for Tedesco to intervene before half time.
LOOK. Tedesco adjusts just before half time
The national coach did this successfully. The pain points mentioned above were better in the second half, despite the fact that Belgium itself came under less fire from Pickford. There was more calm on the ball, as evidenced by ball possession that increased from 30 to 48 percent. The number of passes (155 compared to 242) and passes received (80 percent compared to 87 percent) also increased. “Orel got possession of the ball (Mangala, ed.) a different position and that went very well,” Tedesco explained afterwards.
The statistic that will please Tedesco equally is that the English created significantly fewer ‘expected goals’ in the second half. Before halftime the English figure was 1.54, afterward it was 0.81. The “courage and bravery” that the national coach talked about was embodied by some sharp tackles and more tenacity in the duels. A sublime tackle by Onana and a strong intervention by Debast – an “English block”, according to commentator Aster Nzeyimana – on attempts by Foden as the best examples.
What does expected goals (xG) mean?
The probability that an attempt at goal will result in a goal is measured based on various criteria. The quality of the goal opportunities is then assessed in terms of, among other things, the sharpness of the angle, the distance from the goal, the body part and the game situation. A tap-in from the goal line will result in a much higher xG than a long shot. Expected goals therefore provides insight into the number of goals a team should score based on its chances.
Tedesco: “We started pressing more, there was more intensity and we were also higher on their goal kicks. That worked.” Or how the national coach returned home satisfied, with Bellingham’s late 2-2 only a minor setback.
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Tags: national coach Tedesco leading major adjustments time England Red Devils
