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debriefing of this Nations League

Special envoys in Turin debrief the Nations League Final Four. A real opportunity to bring a trophy back to Brussels, the transalpine tournament ended badly for the Belgians who finished fourth. Roberto Martinez has not been spared criticism and questions arise at one of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Will this failure in the Nations League leave any consequences in the group?

“Yes because we arrived here with ambitions and we finish last,” notes Manuel Jous. “We lose to the two opponents against whom we were supposed to play a rematch. The match against France made us experience the opposite scenario of Japan, and it can leave traces. I wonder about the repeated fact of the second half where we sank for at least twenty minutes. “

“Yes unfortunately on a mental level. It must be crazy for these players to say to themselves that they will not have won anything, not even a League of Nations ”, deplores Eby Brouzakis. “The maximum of this generation was the semi-final in Russia and it will leave a taste of too little. A victory here would have been a nice launching pad for the World Cup which will take place in thirteen months, it will not be. “

“The fact of having been overthrown by France after a sparkling half-time will trot heads in the future”, Lancelot Meulewaeter thinks. “An advantage of two goals at half-time must always be retained and the Devils have set a precedent, in a match where the emotional factor, given the surrounding context, was preponderant. This defeat will in any case maintain a form of inferiority complex compared to other great nations. The doubts that persist about the relative old age of the defense are not gone. “


►►► Read also : Roberto Martinez attacks Devils Watchers: “Be more responsible in the way you judge this team!”


Should we question Roberto Martinez?

Brouzakis: “He is not the only cause of concern but he is part of it. His team is not stronger than in 2018, as he claims. He has to question himself. His tactics are known to everyone now. , he has to find a way to have flexibility. He also has to have a greater impact during the match. However, changing coaches seems risky to me. He has always been loyal to his executives (the start of Tielemans still attests), and its executives will be faithful to it until the end. “

Until: “The problem is that there is no longer anyone in the federation to question it. There is no longer a technical commission, Mehdi Bayat and Bart Verhaeghe are gone, and the current leaders lack the DNA of football. With his double cap, the only one who can question Roberto Martinez is… Roberto Martinez. We have to hope that he accepts to take more risks in the coming months. “

Meulewaeter: “It is quite ungrateful to question everything: to a handful of centimeters, Romelu Lukaku scored the third Belgian goal and the reading grid for all observers is diametrically opposed. The image of a coach who will never pierce the ceiling of the semi-final now sticks to him. That is. But whether at the Euro or in this Final Four, the coach could not count on a 100% fit group. He certainly showed limits, especially in his latency to make changes or in his lack of reinvention in the second half against France, while the team was taking water. Martinez will have to question part of his approach, but one year away from Qatar, is it reasonable to want to turn everything upside down? “


►►► Read also : Frustrated and frustrating Tielemans, Courtois alone in the world, De Ketelaere incisive novice: the Devils scores against Italy


What are the ambitions for Qatar?

Until: “It is not from this Final Four that we learn it but the Devils can no longer be considered as favorites for the World Cup. They were for the last one, and again for the last Euro but not anymore. . We are less strong than in 2018, contrary to what Martinez insists. The only surprise that we could create in Qatar will come from a reshuffle and a rejuvenation of the team. It is not always in the old ones pots that make the best soups. “

Brouzakis: “It’s a complicated question: Eden Hazard will be a year older, so will the defense. In my opinion, there is only De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courteous who can be considered world-class players. They can aim for a semi-final maximum. Their hour, alas, has passed. “

Meulewaeter: “We have to make up our minds: the Devils will no longer be the favorites of the World Cup, a year from now in Doha. In pure quality, many nations will have better arguments to present. The Devils can go there as a routine. rogue and must above all aim for a quarter-final, before dreaming of better. Since 2014, they are the only European nation to be there systematically, during each tournament. A very small consolation certainly, but a proof of incredible constancy for a such a small football country. “

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