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Euro 2020 Preview: Belgium vs Italy

By Ernesto Hernandez

MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 01: Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini (R) walks in the field during An Italy training session/press conference ahead of the Euro 2020 Quarter Final match between Italy and Belgium at Fussball Arena Muenchen on July 1, 2021 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - JULY 01: Italy Head Coach Roberto Mancini (R) walks in the field during An Italy training session/press conference ahead of the Euro 2020 Quarter Final match between Italy and Belgium at Fussball Arena Muenchen on July 1, 2021 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Marcio Machado/Getty Images) /
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Belgium celebrates its opening goal by midfielder Thorgan Hazard during the UEFA EURO 2020 Round of 16 match vs Portugal at Sevilla’s La Cartuja Stadium. (Photo by JULIO MUNOZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Belgium celebrates its opening goal by midfielder Thorgan Hazard during the UEFA EURO 2020 Round of 16 match vs Portugal at Sevilla’s La Cartuja Stadium. (Photo by JULIO MUNOZ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

The Belgians to be without two of its stars for Euro 2020 clash against Italy

Belgium against Italy is set to close out the first day of the quarterfinals of Euro 2020. Both teams got out of the group stage rather comfortably but struggled in the round of 16.

Italy needed extra time to beat Austria 2-0 while Belgium got past Portugal in a drab game thanks to wonder strike from Thorgan Hazard.

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However, the win did not come without a price for the Belgians. Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard had to be subbed out and are serious doubts to play against Italy.

"“We are fighting against the clock to get Eden and Kevin ready, said Belgium manager Roberto Martinez. “I can’t say if they will play or not, because I want to wait until the last minute to decide. We know a lot of people are waiting on news, but we can’t give any just yet.”Source: UEFA"

Should they be unable to feature, they are going to be significant losses for a Belgium side that struggled to create against Portugal. Time and time again they seemed to stall and run out of ideas when they reached the final third.

While Eden has had a tough season, De Bruyne was coming off another spectacular season with Manchester City. Though tough luck has followed him as he was also injured in the Champions League loss against Chelseas and forced to come off.

If Belgium want to get through Italy, other players will need to step up. Romelu Lukaku is going to have to be even more influential than he already has been.

Belgium’s strength is going forward. Defensively speaking, they can be got at. It’s something even the Belgian players know and something Italy will try to take advantage of.

"“I think we have more players who can make a difference individually, however they have a very strong unit, said Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel. “It will be a tough battle and I think we will have to be brave. We can’t play like we did in the last 20 minutes against Portugal, where we stopped playing football and just defended. That won’t work against Italy.”Source: UEFA"

In the group stage, we saw an Italy team that perhaps we hadn’t seen before. Italy were playing very attacking football and scored six goals in their first two games. They hadn’t scored three goals in a game and went on to do it back-to-back.

They were somewhat exposed against Austria in that a solid defensive shape can stifle the Italy attack. The change from that game to this one is Manuel Locatelli is a good shout to start after coming off the bench in the Austria match.

He’s been a revelation this tournament, has been influential and scored his share of goals.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini, however, is reluctant to give anything away before game time.

"“We will have to see how the game evolves, we could change something during the game if things are not going as we have planned,” Mancini said. “I’m sure it will be a beautiful match with the team making one mistake less than the other probably winning it because I think it will be a really even game.”Source: UEFA"

Italy has yet to face an opponent that can trouble them on defense. Belgium will be the first team who can do that so it will be interesting to see how the Italian defense reacts. Especially with a number of them being very familiar with Lukaku as he plays in Serie A for Inter Milan.

Still, it would be a mistake to simply focus on Lukaku as Belgium count on other players who can also be a threat.

"“We have a great  deal of respect for Lukaku because he had a great season at Inter and he became a dominant player,” said Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. But it’s almost an insult to only talk about Lukaku when you see how many quality players that Belgium have.”Source: UEFA"

Some of the more attractive games in Euro 2020 have been a battle as neither team want to make a mistake and concede a goal. They may be even more conservative given it’s a knockout game.

dark. Next. Euro 2020 Preview: Switzerland vs Spain

This will be the fifth meeting between these two sides with Italy having won three of those meeting and drawing the other.

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