Domenico Tedesco has not missed his debut as national coach. In a friendly match with two faces, the Red Devils have put Germany over the knee. In the first half hour, the Belgians swirled over the Germans. After the break it was sweating, until captain De Bruyne took care of the redemption.
Germany – Belgium in a nutshell:
- Key moment: the Belgians groaned in the 2nd half under the German offensive. They held on to the prestigious victory with a clever and effective counter-attack.
- Man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne finished the counter. The captain had also provided the assists for Carrasco and Lukaku’s goals. KDB revives under the new national coach.
- Statistics: the Red Devils booked a historic victory. The last Belgian victory against (West) Germany was in 1954. Rik Coppens and his team won 2-0 almost 70 years ago.
Turbulent opening phase of the Belgians
After the 0-3 in the European Championship preliminary round against Sweden, a bigger test for the Red Devils followed with Germany. Nota bene in and against the homeland of the new national coach Domenico Tedesco.
He had clearly got his internationals on edge. Belgium shot scorching from the starting block in Cologne.
Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku immediately thundered, both on instructions from Kevin De Bruyne. After 10 turbulent minutes, the Red Devils led 0-2!
The bonus could have been even bigger. Just about every Belgian attack ended with Marc-André ter Stegen.
Dodi Lukebakio sprinted towards the German goalkeeper and shot just wide, Lukaku headed a De Bruyne corner kick on the crossbar.
“A feast for the eyes”, Peter Vandenbempt applauded the first half hour of the Belgians. “I have hardly seen this level of the golden generation,” said his co-commentator Eddy Snelders.
After 30 scorching minutes from the Belgians, the Germans showed themselves once. Although they needed hands from Lukaku to score from the spot.
Niclas Füllkrug scored his 6th goal in as many matches for the national team.
Romelu Lukaku scores again. He had made 3 against Sweden.
De Bruyne with the redemption after a handsome counter-attack
The connection goal had given the Germans courage. After the break, they went in search of the equalizer.
That did not happen, because the Belgians (with the necessary effort) held their ground and because they countered cleverly on the left flank.
Charles De Ketelaere sent Leandro Trossard deep. The winger passed De Bruyne, the captain finished in the far corner: 1-3.
The Germans against the canvas? No, because you know the cliché. With Germany you are not done until the final whistle blows.
Serge Gnabry shook out a great solo, but was unlucky in the finish. Not much later he only had to push in the connection goal: 2-3.
The Belgians groaned, but held on to victory. 2 on 2 under the new national coach Domenico Tedesco.
The Red Devils will meet again in June: for the European Championship qualifying matches against Austria (17/06) and Estonia (20 June).
Orel Mangala cheers for his captain Kevin De Bruyne’s goal.
