What was hidden behind the surprising starting line-up of the Red Devils against Croatia, now 15 days ago? As a physiotherapist for the national team in Qatar, Lieven Maesschalck was involved in making important decisions. Also knots Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
Thursday 1 November at 2.44 pm. More than an hour before the match against Croatia, the tweet from the Belgian Football Association makes smartphones light up and sports editors shift into sixth gear.
The official position against the Croats has been eagerly awaited all day.
After basic places against Canada and Morocco, Eden Hazard and Michy Batshuayi disappear from the team. Enter Dries Mertens and Leandro Trossard.
Dendoncker moves forward after his starting place against Canada to replace the suspended Amadou Onana.
From the coast to the Ardennes, eyebrows are raised. No Lukaku? Or Mertens? Why not a deep striker? Where will Dendoncker play?
Everyone fit for Croatia
The absence of Eden Hazard in the base also raises questions. National coach Roberto Martinez has always defended his captain through thick and thin.
In the crucial duel against the Croats, he still chooses Leandro Trossard. Isn’t that admitting he’s wrong?
“It was a tactical choice, not a medical one,” said Lieven Maesschalck in Villa Sporza yesterday. “Eden Hazard could play 100 percent.”
“We had the assignment to get everyone fit against Croatia.”
“Everyone was fit against Croatia.”
Lukaku couldn’t play 90 minutes
With everyone ready to play, the knot around Romelu Lukaku becomes even more important to cut. Lukaku carried the hopes of the entire nation on his shoulders.
But that knot was also complex.
“Roberto Martinez is someone who listens to the medical staff and everything is discussed. The fact that Lukaku, for example, had not played for months, also played a role. The agreement was that he would not play 90 minutes.”
Physically, Romelu couldn’t handle a whole game. So a choice had to be made again.
In the end, Lukaku only came on the field at the start of the second half. A raid with packing. The Inter striker missed some big chances, but without Lukaku there would have been little or no Belgian threat in the first half.
Lukaku weighed on the defense of the Croats and clearly increased presence in the hostile penalty area.
“It was agreed with Romelu that reaching Croatia should be achievable.”
“But physically Romelu couldn’t handle a whole game. So a choice had to be made again. Let him start or not. Let him play 45 minutes or 60 minutes.”
In the end, it was very close a few times whether the choice had turned out well for the Red Devils.
