Against the Blues, the Belgians played like world champions (for 45 minutes)
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez wants to build on the last Nations League meeting against France (2-3) to prepare for the 2022 World Cup.
What if 2022 was finally the year of Belgium? After a Euro 2020 ended with a defeat in the quarter-finals against Italy (1-2), the Red Devils still dream of an international consecration at the World Cup in Qatar, for what will be the last World Cup in Qatar. De Bruyne-Hazard-Lukaku generation.
For this, Roberto Martinez intends to rely on the semi-final of the Nations League lost against the Blues (2-3) last October. “The first half against France showed all the work done over the past five years. Unfortunately, in the second half, it wasn’t us ”, entrusts the Belgian coach to RTBF.
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“This match against France was very close, remembers Martinez. We can remain very objective by saying that we were on the verge of winning if our last goal had not been canceled or if the penalty had not been awarded. But we must also be correct in saying that our first half can be a half that allows us to be world champion and that the second half does not allow us to achieve anything, because we do not was more in control. “
Martinez’s analysis is pretty good. In the first period, Belgium had outclassed France and logically led 2-0. The Blues were awakened by Benzema’s goal on the hour mark, then benefited from two favorable facts before winning over Theo Hernandez’s goal.
Anyway, this defeat does not discourage Martinez, who dismisses the idea of a Belgian generation in decline since the World Cup in Russia. “In 2018, we were unable to score against France. Since then, we have chained 43 games, scoring one but each time, it’s more than any team and that reflects our style of play ”, underlines the Spanish technician.