The first game in almost a year for the national team went without a hitch. On the opening matchday of the Nations League, the Red Devils went on to win 0-2 in Denmark. Jason Denayer and Dries Mertens gave Belgium an 11th victory in a row.
Denmark – Belgium in a nutshell:
- Key moment: the Belgians have a hard time in the initial phase, but Denayer’s early goal on a corner changes the positions on the battlefield.
- Man of the Match: It is a choice between Mertens with a goal and an assist and Jason Denayer. We choose the latter because he scored, but was also very present in the defense and did not catch himself at all.
- Statistics: Belgium is the first country to beat Denmark after 33 games without a defeat.
Strong playing Denayer scores first goal for Devils
After not having played together for ten months, the first 45 minutes were difficult for the Red Devils. There were extenuating circumstances. Of course the absence of strongholds Eden Hazard (90 minutes on the bench), Kevin De Bruyne (became a father) and Thibaut Courtois.
Romelu Lukaku started after a grueling season with Inter in the base, but rarely did the ball get into the zone where it can become dangerous.
On the other hand, it was initially also the credit of the Danes to put high pressure on them. Tielemans and Witsel just did not get drowned in midfield and received little support from Thorgan Hazard and Castagne.
The Red Devil that performed well was Jason Denayer. Still on a Champions League cloud, he played confidently and eagerly in the duels. Coincidentally or not, he made the 0-1 before half time. At a corner, Denayer dived to the zone at the first post and pushed the ball with feeling into the far corner.
After 0-2, Doku and Trossard are allowed to make their debut
Except for a shot by Eriksen – which Mignolet had to save – everything was said about the first half. And that didn’t get any better after half-time. Denmark’s pressurizing tank was empty and the Red Devils took control.
It was not flashy, but on experience and class the Red Devils secured the victory. By not giving anything away in the back and making the decisive 0-2 about fifteen minutes before the end.
In our opinion Lukaku was stopped incorrectly in the penalty area, but the game went on and Mertens had luckily understood that. He was first on the rebound and put the ball well against the net.
The victory was safe and national coach Martinez pleased Trossard and Doku with their first minutes in the (brand new) shirt of the national team.
“We had to suffer in order to become selfless afterwards”
- Jason Denayer: “The start of the match was difficult because there was a very long time between this international match and the previous match. It is always nice to play with the national team. I score my first goal for the national team and that is nice, because as a defender you don’t score often. We still have to work on our automatisms. “
- Roberto Martinez: “After ten months it was extremely good to see that we showed the determination to defend well and could suffer and then slowly become ourselves again and score. I am happy with the debutants, but also with what the experienced players have. “It was certainly not the plan to leave the ball to Denmark in the first half. You have to give Denmark credit for that.”
