Morocco’s coach Eric Gerets had some good news and some bad news for Georges Leekens yesterday. Gerets has the same agent as Joachim Löw and called him to ask if Germany would be playing their first choice team in Istanbul tonight. The German coach assured Gerets that Die Mannschaft would be doing just that but also in Dusseldorf in Tuesday when Belgium will be the visitors.
The position in Group A is that with all teams having two games remaining, Belgium must get three more points than Turkey in their respective matches: Belgium are at home to Kazakhstan before going to Dusseldorf, while Turkey play two matches in Istanbul, versus Germany and Azerbaijan. In reality this means that Belgium must win in Dusseldorf on Tuesday while hoping that Germany have already defeated Turkey in Istanbul.
Given that scenario, Georges Leekens has taken Belgium back to the Swinging Sixties, when the Beatles were just four mop-topped innocent lads and football teams lined up with five forwards. Leekens has said that his team to face Kazakhstan tonight will be the most attacking that Belgium has ever fielded. Indeed he’ll have two wingers (Moussa Démbéle and Dries Mertens), two inside forwards (Eden Hazard and Axel Witsel) and a centre forward (Igor De Camargo). The plan is that they’ll be switching positions continually and hopefully setting the Kazakhstan defenders a few problems. It will certainly be fascinating to see Eden Hazard in a fairly free more central role. If it comes off, Leekens will be buying hamburgers not just for Hazard but for the whole squad.
Tonight, all eyes and ears will of course also be on Istanbul; for some reason, the Turkey-Germany match kicks off 15 minutes before the one in Brussels. You could look at Belgium’s attacking strength and argue that if Hazard and Dries Mertens play like they have in Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie respectively, then Belgium could score 10 tonight. Caution is advised however, as neither player has yet to score for Belgium!
The other news is that Leekens has been extremely impressed by both Romelu Lukaku and Steven Defour in the last few days training, adding that substitutions “could make the difference”. Meanwhile Marvin Ogunjimi’s fitness has improved and he could also make the bench, alongside Thibaut Courtois and Vadis Odjidja. Whatever happens, there will be lots to write about on Wednesday when the rocky road to Rio becomes a little closer for the ‘Golden Generation’.
Matches tonight: Turkey-Germany, Belgium- Kazakhstan
Matches Tuesday: Germany-Belgium, Turkey- Azerbaijan.
Belgium’s likely team vs Kazakhstan: Mignolet; Ciman, Van Buyten, Kompany, Vertonghen; Simons, Witsel: Dembélé, Hazard, Mertens; De Camargo. (Subs: Courtois, Odoi, Pocognoli, Odjidja, Defour, Lukaku, Vleminckx).
Normally Fellaini for Dembele (always good on the ball but way too inefficient overall) against Germany indeed. Would also like to see Defour in stead of Simons, but that won't happen of course.
Any thoughts on why Pocognoli doesn't get a chance on the left back? Quite experienced for his age, very mobile, good cross. I believe him and or Van Damme should be first choice on that position in stead of the Lombaerts, Vermaelen or Vertonghen whose natural position it is not.
Playing Ciman against Germany is also quite a risk. Hoefkens seems a better choice to me.