Belgium triumphant over resilient Algeria: a Tactical Analysis

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The Rode Duivels certainly had it hard today. Fantastic in qualifying, and being tipped as one of the dark horses of the tournament, they almost had a shocker as a stout Algerian defense almost kept a clean sheet. Algeria came out to Belo Horizonte to pull off a draw and came close, but were denied. Belgium scored twice after halftime to ensure all three points after a first half penalty from Sofiane Feghouli put Algeria ahead. Here is the tactical analysis on the game.

Marc Wilmot’s Belgium came out with the 4-2-3-1 which was preferred during qualifying and friendlies.

Vahid Halilhodžić put his team out to suffocate Belgium and nick a draw from the game, sacrificing goal scorer Slimani for Soudani.

Algerian Defense is Watertight

From the moment the game started, Algeria already began to drop back and recede in numbers. Their team essentially turned into a 4-6-0, with no identifiable forward. Two waves of players covered the box and surrounding areas. While this conversion didn’t happen until the 15th minute, Algeria never looked like truly attacking, but where ever so stubborn in defense. Marc Wilmots may have been naive, because he elected to choose Nacer Chadli over an extremely reliable and explosive Dries Mertens. Without another surging midfielder besides Hazard, Belgium look lost at sea and without any penetration. Their game gets worse after Vertonghen makes a horrific mistake. On the counter, the Algerians find space behind Alderwield and make a counter, their cross nears Feghouli, who is forced down by a slower Vertonghen who concedes a rather stupid penalty in the 25th minute. Feghouli slots it past Courtois and Algeria score their first World Cup goal since 1986.

Sofiane Feghouli opens the score

After the goal, Algeria no longer take any offensive chances, but they suffocate Belgium’s midfield, and even the centerbacks have to play upfield to keep possession. Witsel and Hazard get a couple of shots, but nothing too threatening. De Bruyne has a terrible first half, as none of his crosses reach their target and his corners are beyond poor. Chadli was begging to be substituted as his shooting was highly erratic, and when Hazard fed him through on goal late in the first half, he took a tame shot which Rais saved with absolutely no complications. Lukaku never had any service and had to come out of his comfort zone to retrieve the ball. Belgium had trouble even stringing together a passing sequence. Algeria had nullified Belgium with a “parked bus”, and the Belgians had no reply.

Wilmots’s gambles change the game

After halftime, Chadli is substituted for Mertens and the space begins appear for Belgium. Mertens passing and darting runs cause many problems for Ghoulam, his Napoli teammate, who can’t control Mertens. With an extra runner behind Algeria’s defense, Witsel and Dembele begin to slowly pick passes through to the wingers. They continue to poke and prod, but they still can’t forge a cutting edge chance. Halliche and Boughera in defense were still too composed for Belgium to rip apart. Wilmots decides to bring in the one player who will really create danger for Algeria, Maruane Fellaini. He is on for Dembélé in the 65th minute and instantly scores 5 minutes later. Algeria make the mistake of giving too much space to De Bruyne who makes a 30 yard cross towards Fellaini, who is played onside by Halliche, and Fellaini makes no mistake as he heads over Rais. His aerial ability was too much for the Algerian defense to handle at times.

Wilmots celebrates as his team scores the equalizer

Algeria loses their momentum and Belgium begins to truly dominate the game. Algeria moves up too much and Belgium strike, and they strike clinically. After a strong tackle from De Bruyne on none other than Feghouli, Belgium begins a vicious counter as Hazard ends up passing it to Mertens who blasts it into the top corner in the 80th minute.

Mertens scores the winner late in the game

Algeria chased the game, but it was too late as they never looked to really attack Belgium and had made all three substitutions.

Belgium managed to beat Algeria, but this gives Russia the blueprint towards beating Belgium. Frustrate Belgium with a deep defensive line, and expose their lack of fullbacks (wingplay), and you’ll get chances. Mertens and Fellaini were critical and I’m sure Wilmots won’t bench them again. Algeria came out to defend and almost pulled out a result, so their display wasn’t as bad as many had predicted.