Mathematically it is no longer possible for appallingly weak Red Devils

41,367 spectators were in the King Baudouin Stadium on Thursday evening, but if the Red Devils wanted to win new souls after their encouraging performance against France, they scored an ugly own goal. At no point did Belgium give the impression that it could win the “match of the last chance” in the Nations League against Italy. Domenico Tedesco's experimental style of play, a 5-3-2 with high wingbacks instead of wingers, was no stranger to this.

Tedesco charmed in his first months by (re)discovering exciting wingers such as Dodi Lukebakio and Johan Bakayoko. The German coach noted several times that Belgium was blessed with an abundance of wingers, including Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard and Yannick Carrasco. So strange that only one of those five was allowed to start against Italy. Leandro Trossard then played a central role.

Romelu Lukaku was back in the shirt of the national team, but there were moments in the match when the Napoli striker could have wondered whether he would have been better off staying in southern Italy. In what was one of the Belgians' worst first halves on home soil, the Devils' all-time leading scorer failed to hit a ball. Coach Domenico Tedesco had opted for a two-striker line-up, with Lukaku in a more withdrawn role behind Loïs Openda. But if that choice was intended to involve “Big Rom” more in the game, the national coach could have spared himself that intervention.

The Devils literally accomplished nothing in the first forty-five minutes. The opening fifteen minutes in particular were painful to the eyes. Italy had the ball all the time and took the lead when Maxim De Cuyper kicked the ball wide with Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the back. Sandro Tonali scored the 0-1.

The Azzurri did not need to win to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League. After the 0-1 lead, Italy switched to safety mode and gave the ball to the scratching Belgians. The Red Devils suffered from anemia in possession and Arne Engels could have wished for a different match to make his starting debut for the Red Devils. The Celtic midfielder cut a poor figure as a replacement for the injured Youri Tielemans.

No ideas

The ideas had to come from Trossard, but only in the second half did he help Belgium create opportunities. The Arsenal striker indicated after the match that it was coach Domenico Tedesco's order not to put pressure on Italy in the first half

“It is not easy to press Italy,” Tedesco defended himself. “But our problem was mainly that we couldn't keep the ball. In the second half we adapted and were able to put more pressure on Italy. I chose a different system because I wanted to field Romelu Lukaku and Loïs Openda together. Both wanted to play together.”

Twelve minutes before the end there was a chance for Romelu Lukaku. Timothy Castagne crossed, Lukaku rose high but headed wide. In the final phase, Wout Faes hit the post. Because Israel drew 0-0 in France on Thursday, Belgium must actually avoid relegation in Budapest on Sunday. Israel can still jump over Belgium if it wins at least 2-0 against the Red Devils. “I don't assume that scenario,” Tedesco said. “But it is certain that this match against Italy was disappointing.”