Venue: Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bourdeaux
KO: 1500 (local time)
Game 22: Belgium vs Republic of Ireland
- Thread starter Winrar
- Start date
Venue: Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bourdeaux
KO: 1500 (local time)
Should be a good'un.
The whole '1 team vs 11 individuals' thing from the Italy-Belgium game is nice and all but it sure helps when you have exceptional defenders to keep their match-winners quiet. Wouldn't be at all surprising for De Bruyne or Hazard to spoil the fun with an early goal. Ireland have to be feeling far better about this one than they did when the groups were drawn though, all the pressure is on Belgium. Keep the upsets comin'.
The whole '1 team vs 11 individuals' thing from the Italy-Belgium game is nice and all but it sure helps when you have exceptional defenders to keep their match-winners quiet. Wouldn't be at all surprising for De Bruyne or Hazard to spoil the fun with an early goal. Ireland have to be feeling far better about this one than they did when the groups were drawn though, all the pressure is on Belgium. Keep the upsets comin'.
Italy result went our way
But I'm nervous as feck. Somehow avoid defeat and see what we can do against an already qualified Italy
But I'm nervous as feck. Somehow avoid defeat and see what we can do against an already qualified Italy
Perfect one here in Sydney for us. 11pm kick off, really feel Ireland can surprise Belgium, would love a win for the Irish, can't stand the football hipsters and their obsession with Belgium.
After the opening matches I'm very confident we can get something out of this. We looked really strong in the first half and if we can replicate that we have a good chance of even grabbing a win. Belgium aren't half as good as they are hyped up to be.
Rumoured starting XI in the Belgian papers today:
Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Witsel, Nainggolan, Hazard; Mertens, Carrasco, Benteke.
Yeah, you read that right. Wilmots is a madman if he starts like this, he'll be vilified in the press unless we win 5-0.
Courtois; Meunier, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Witsel, Nainggolan, Hazard; Mertens, Carrasco, Benteke.
Yeah, you read that right. Wilmots is a madman if he starts like this, he'll be vilified in the press unless we win 5-0.
Beautiful stadium. I am expecting a draw, I'm in Ireland now and will be in Dublin for a game time, should be fun.
Jesus Christ
Our most reliable sports website now says that De Bruyne and Lukaku will start though, and that Carrasco and Dembele will be the only two changes. I'm not sure which one to believe but we'll know soon enough..
I'd have dropped Lukaku, but if Carrasco and Dembele are in then I think Wilmots has made good changes.
Woke up this morning resolute in the view that we'll win today. That won't lead to crushing disappointment at all.
Reports that a major terrorist threat was foiled for this match
The actual lineup for Belgium, according to a reliable newspaper:
Courtois; Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Meunier; Witsel, Dembélé; Hazard, De Bruyne Carrasco; Lukaku
Courtois; Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Meunier; Witsel, Dembélé; Hazard, De Bruyne Carrasco; Lukaku
Looks much, much better than the first match line-up. Though even that looked good on paper so let's see if Belgium can stop being a team full of players wanting their 25 yard pot shot goal.
Who's Meunier?
Who's Meunier?
Attacking right back from Club Brugge. Young player, good potential but is coming back from an injury and doesn't have any experience on this level. Very good at overlaps and crossing, not the best defender. He used to play as a winger.
I hope your right
The nerves are really starting for me now
But even if we lose we still have a chance against an already qualified Italy
Hoping Ireland can put in the same level today as against Sweden. Being tight and compact in defence will be the key.
Is Jonathan Walters fit?
Is Jonathan Walters fit?
I don't like Witsel instead of Nainggolan, he really is untouchable for Wilmots. Still, a better line-up than the first game. I'd have put Batshuayi on for Lukaku though. Lukaku can't play in tight spaces and that will be necessary against Ireland.
I agree. I don't rate Witsel at all and think Michy has been shafted a bit. Strange of Wilmots to criticise Lukaku and then start him though.
If you put him on the bench today, his tournament is over. You know he's a confidence player. Bring Michy on in the second half if necessary.
Come on Oyland! Can't stand Belgium and their overrated team.
The Irish fans are great. They shouted 'go back to your sexy wives' to the Swedish fans.
Credit to Wilmots, great team selection. Hopefully it's De Bruyne wide instead of Hazard. He plays like a second striker instead of an attacking midfielder. Leaves too many gaps in midfield & doesn't participate in build-up play.
Ward in for Walters apparently. Not sure if it means Brady goes up front or if Hoolahan will be pushed up.
EDIT: A switch to a 433 probably makes most sense actually. Although that limits Hoolahan hugely.
EDIT: A switch to a 433 probably makes most sense actually. Although that limits Hoolahan hugely.
Wilmots will most likely change up the team after an awful display against Italy.
Courtois
Ciman Alderweireld Vermaelen Vertonghen
Fellaini Witsel
Mertens De Bruyne Hazard
Origi
Ciman Alderweireld Vermaelen Vertonghen
Fellaini Witsel
Mertens De Bruyne Hazard
Origi
Probably because I didn't use the papers to help me.Confirmed lineup already posted. Not even close
I think it might be a 4411 with Hendrick tucked in on the right. Ward against Carrasco could be a massacre. Hopefully we can free Long down the channels and allow him to run at Vermaelan. Brady should be a threat versus Meunier on the wing aswell. That Belgium side is very intimidating though. I'm going to be pissed if McGeady or Keane got on the pitch again today. We'd be better off sticking Sheasy up top if we need a goal.
I think they should do the opposite, personally feel Hazard is better wide left than De Bruyne is on the wing.
So Lukaku is starting again?
Let's see what Meunier can do. I'm not comfortable with his defensive game but hopefully he can do some damage in attack. Lukaku needs to put in a performance or start fearing for his place. Unlike Witsel, who could score 5 own goals and still be certain of his place in the first XI.
Have a feeling we'll lose today and go into the Italy game needing a win.
It would be very poor on Belgium's part I they fail to bounce back against us.
It would be very poor on Belgium's part I they fail to bounce back against us.
The Irish fans are great. They shouted 'go back to your sexy wives' to the Swedish fans.
We haven't been overrated since the WC, pretty much everyone thinks we've got a lot of quality but we play like shit, which is accurate. I wish people would stop saying we're overrated when literally everyone says we're nothing special.
This match feels like a top 4 premier league team against a mid table premier league team.
You're overrated in England. Everyone I've spoken to fancies Belgium as a favourite because of the players you've got. Not to mention the FIFA world ranking.
Ah that might be true, don't know about that but it's certainly not the case in Belgium or on the caf. FIFA rankings are not representative either but probably mislead people who don't know much about football or don't watch our games.
To be fair, their team is really very strong. Not gonna lie, I'm actually envious of their team. Any team which has De Bruyne and Hazard can go far in the tournament. It's just a shame that their coach seems to be out of depth. They should have sacked Wilmots and get a better coach.
feck it
We are gonna get hammered
2 or 3 - 0 to Belgium
We are gonna get hammered
2 or 3 - 0 to Belgium
I hope Ireland wins this.