Belgium vs Republic of Ireland: Team News, Tactics, Lineups, Stats & Predictions

TOPSHOT - Belgium's forward Eden Hazard reacts during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Belgium and Italy at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Lyon on June 13, 2016. Italy won 2-0. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots will be looking for a strong response to the Italy defeat when his side take on the Republic of Ireland in their second Group E game on Saturday.

 

The Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux is the venue for the Group E clash between star-studded Belgium and a Republic of Ireland side who are more than capable of springing a surprise on Saturday. While the Irish registered their first points of the tournament in the 1-1 draw with Sweden, Marc Wilmots’ men fell to a damaging defeat against Italy in their opening game.

Belgium’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois misses a goal by Italy’s midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Belgium and Italy at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Lyon on June 13, 2016. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

The Irish will need a degree of luck when they come up against a Belgium side looking to make up for that terrible performance against Italy. Questions were raised immediately after the Red Devils’ starting XI was made public and eventually, Antonio Conte’s Italy managed to outclass them on all fronts. Belgium came into the tournament as one of the favourites, but a defeat on Saturday could send them packing.

Team News & Tactics

Belgium

Rumours of unrest in the Belgium dressing room have emerged since their loss to Italy. Marc Wilmots blaming Romelu Lukaku and Toby Alderweireld is unlikely to have helped the Red Devils’ cause, while the rumoured altercation between Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois and his manager raises questions over the unity of the camp.

Wilmots will look to stick to the same formation, knowing that his side can afford to be more adventurous in attack against the Republic of Ireland. Club Brugge’s Thomas Meunier could replace Laurent Ciman at right-back, while Tottenham Hotspur duo Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are expected to retain their positions along with Barcelona’s Thomas Vermaelen.

Meanwhile, Axel Witsel is expected to retain his place alongside Radja Nainggolan in front of the back four. They will be tasked with keeping Wes Hoolahan quiet throughout the game and intercepting attempted passes to the likes of Robbie Keane and Shane Long. They will also look to reduce the impact of Ireland’s wingers on their respective flanks.

LYON, FRANCE – JUNE 13: Marouane Fellaini of Belgium and Andrea Barzagli of Italy battle for the ball during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Belgium and Italy at Stade des Lumieres on June 13, 2016 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Wilmots’ decision to start Manchester United flop Marouane Fellaini in a central role against Italy backfired and the team looked disjointed in attack. As such, Napoli’s Dries Mertens or Atletico Madrid’s Yannick Carrasco could replace the former Everton midfielder in the starting lineup, while Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is expected to be deployed in his favoured no.10 role.

The linkup play between De Bruyne and Chelsea star Eden Hazard will be crucial to Belgium’s attacking from the left flank, and Vertonghen’s overlapping runs and his understanding with Hazard will have to be almost perfect for them to be able to work together in attack and defence.

It is uncertain whether Chelsea and Manchester United target Romelu Lukaku will start up front for Les Diables Rouges. His glaring miss in the last game along with his generally unconvincing performance against the Italians has forced Marc Wilmots to reconsider his options.

Belgium’s forward Romelu Lukaku jumps for the ball during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Belgium and Italy at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais stadium in Lyon on June 13, 2016. / AFP / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Wilmots has mentioned his uncertainity at Lukaku starting after the Italy game, saying [via Sky Sports]: “I don’t know yet whether Romelu [Lukaku] will start again. I will have to think about the line-up. It’s not like all his confidence is gone all of a sudden after the match versus Italy. I have a number of options, though, and we will see which one is the best.”

Liverpool duo Christian Benteke and Divock Origi are two of four striking options available to the Belgian manager. The fourth option, Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi, has been widely tipped to feature in some capacity.

Predicted Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Vertonghen, Vermaelen, Alderweireld, Ciman; Witsel, Nainggolan; Hazard, De Bruyne, Mertens; Lukaku

Republic of Ireland

Martin O’Neill’s men will be looking to build on their draw against Sweden, where they conceded an unlucky own goal to throw away the three points. A win here would give them a huge boost for a second place finish in Group E and the Green Army will try to capitalise on Belgium’s low morale following the Italy result.

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 13: Wes Hoolahan (C) of Republic of Ireland celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his team mate Glenn Whelan (L) and Robbie Brady (R) during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E match between Republic of Ireland and Sweden at Stade de France on June 13, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

O’Neill is likely to stick to the 4-3-1-2 formation he used in the opening game. Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters is expected to miss the game with an Achilles injury and Robbie Keane could take his place up front with Shane Long. The Southampton striker will look to take inspiration from teammate Graziano Pelle and breach the Belgian defence as well. The 29-year-old’s ability to finish his chances will be integral to Ireland’s hopes of qualification.

Norwich City’s Robbie Brady, Sunderland’s John O’Shea, Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark and Everton’s Seamus Coleman are expected to form the back four in front of West Ham shot-stopper Darren Randolph.

Ireland’s midfielder Wesley Hoolahan celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 group E football match between Ireland and Sweden at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis on June 13, 2016. / AFP / PHILIPPE LOPEZ (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Jeff Hendrick, Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy will be deployed as the midfield three. The trio will be expected to shut down Belgium’s passing lanes in midfield and stop the likes of Hazard and De Bruyne from exerting their influence on the match.

Wes Hoolahan, who scored against Sweden, will be playing in a central attacking midfield role and will have to slot in behind Robbie Keane and Shane Long. The 34-year-old will come up against Chelsea target Radja Nainggolan and Axel Witsel, and given the physicality of the Belgian midfield pairing, it is sure to be a stern test for the veteran playmaker.

Predicted Starting XI (4-3-1-2) : Randolph; Brady, O’Shea, Clark, Coleman; Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy; Hoolahan; Keane, Long

Key Statistics

Players to watch

Republic of Ireland: Robbie Keane

DUBLIN, IRELAND – JUNE 07: Robbie Keane of the Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier between Republic of Ireland and the Faroe Islands at the Aviva Stadium on June 7, 2013 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

The 35-year-old will lead his side out once again in light of the injury to Jon Walters, and all eyes will be on the former Liverpool and Spurs hitman as he tries to breach the Belgium defence and help his country qualify for the knockout stages.

Keane is seeing out the final years of his career in the United States at LA Galaxy. Last year, he enjoyed his most prolific season in front of goal, finding the net 25 times in 27 appearances. He will be going into the tournament as Ireland’s most capped player and their top goalscorer and could prove to Belgium’s undoing if the Red Devils make the mistake of underestimating him.

Prediction

Belgium 2-1 Republic Of Ireland

Belgium have too much quality in their side to not win this game. If Wilmots were to field the correct side that plays to the strengths of the likes of Hazard and De Bruyne, the Red Devils should be able to get their first win of the tournament.

Blast From The Past


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