BELGIUM vs. RUSSIA
Date: June 22, 2014
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Maracana - Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, Rio de Janeiro
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 4-3-1 Russia
Last Match: 2010 Friendly. Belgium def. Russia 2-0.
Line: Belgium -120
Group H Preview here.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Belgium (11th), Russia (19th)
Managers: Marc Wilmots (BEL), Fabio Capello (RUS)
Captains: Vincent Kompany (BEL), Vasili Berezutskiy (RUS)
World Cup Appearances: 12 (BEL), 10 (RUS)
Best Finish: Belgium (Fourth Place, 1986), Russia (Fourth Place, 1966)
Qualifying Records: Belgium (8-0-2, GF: 18, GA: 4), Russia (7-2-1, GF: 20, GA: 5)
Previous Game Results
Belgium
Russia
June 17th - Russia tied South Korea 1-1
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Russia: Oleg Shatov (Yellow Card)
Overview
Group H continues today with group leaders Belgium looking to rebound from a scare against Algeria against a Russian squad that will be scaring no one after their performance against Korea.
It's a Belgium squad that may have to face their European counterpart without their captain. Vincent Kompany picked up a groin strain late in the Algeria game and while expected to start, is not likely to be at 100%. Look for Russia to go straight at Kompany on attack if he is on the field.
Russia have their own selection dilemma after long-time goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev let a Korean goal in on a howler for the ages. Akinfeev is still expected to get the nod in goal but you would understand if Akinfeev saw the bench for the rest of the tournament.
Both teams should play their regular 4-2-3-1 formations in this game. Belgium's goals came from a pair of substitutes against Algeria and both Dries Mertens and Marouane Fellaini are expected to enter the starting lineup for Belgium today.
Russia may have some tinkering to do with their lineup as well. Goalscorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov and top playmaker Alan Dzagoev both started the Korea game on the bench before having an impact as a substitute. 23 year old striker Aleksandr Kokorin also showed a lot of promise. One of those players will have to play out of position in this attack though if all 3 want to see the field.
Personnel
In the Belgian Third: Algeria utilized speed on the flanks to expose the weakness in the Belgian back line. Without a true fullback in the starting XI, Belgium essentially play 4 natural centre backs so they are vulnerable to quickness on the outside. That isn't Russia. Slow and methodical, Russia will have trouble getting through this line, even if Kompany isn't fully fit. Advantage: Belgium.
In the Midfield: Russia pushes high up the field to create pressure and clog the passing lanes through the middle. Belgium struggled to get great ball movement against Algeria in the midfield. Russia aren't a dynamic passing team offensively but their pressure could pose a problem to Belgium. Advantage: Even.
In the Russian Third: Towering in size with helped them against Korea, Belgium are much better off the ball and can pose a variety of threats towards the Russian goal. Have to be wary of the aerial threat from Lukaku and Fellaini but cannot ignore the speed of guys like Hazard and Mertens off the wings. Lots of ways for Belgium to beat this team and Russia don't have the speed to cover all of them. Advantage: Belgium.
Goalkeeping: My guess is Akinfeev starts. Has been the long-time goalkeeper and while Capello may be tempted to pull the trigger on a switch, you can count the number of caps for the backups on one hand. At any rate, few goalkeepers can match the season Thibaut Courtois has had for Atletico Madrid. Advantage: Belgium.
It's a Belgium squad that may have to face their European counterpart without their captain. Vincent Kompany picked up a groin strain late in the Algeria game and while expected to start, is not likely to be at 100%. Look for Russia to go straight at Kompany on attack if he is on the field.
Russia have their own selection dilemma after long-time goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev let a Korean goal in on a howler for the ages. Akinfeev is still expected to get the nod in goal but you would understand if Akinfeev saw the bench for the rest of the tournament.
Both teams should play their regular 4-2-3-1 formations in this game. Belgium's goals came from a pair of substitutes against Algeria and both Dries Mertens and Marouane Fellaini are expected to enter the starting lineup for Belgium today.
Russia may have some tinkering to do with their lineup as well. Goalscorer Aleksandr Kerzhakov and top playmaker Alan Dzagoev both started the Korea game on the bench before having an impact as a substitute. 23 year old striker Aleksandr Kokorin also showed a lot of promise. One of those players will have to play out of position in this attack though if all 3 want to see the field.
Personnel
In the Belgian Third: Algeria utilized speed on the flanks to expose the weakness in the Belgian back line. Without a true fullback in the starting XI, Belgium essentially play 4 natural centre backs so they are vulnerable to quickness on the outside. That isn't Russia. Slow and methodical, Russia will have trouble getting through this line, even if Kompany isn't fully fit. Advantage: Belgium.
In the Midfield: Russia pushes high up the field to create pressure and clog the passing lanes through the middle. Belgium struggled to get great ball movement against Algeria in the midfield. Russia aren't a dynamic passing team offensively but their pressure could pose a problem to Belgium. Advantage: Even.
In the Russian Third: Towering in size with helped them against Korea, Belgium are much better off the ball and can pose a variety of threats towards the Russian goal. Have to be wary of the aerial threat from Lukaku and Fellaini but cannot ignore the speed of guys like Hazard and Mertens off the wings. Lots of ways for Belgium to beat this team and Russia don't have the speed to cover all of them. Advantage: Belgium.
Goalkeeping: My guess is Akinfeev starts. Has been the long-time goalkeeper and while Capello may be tempted to pull the trigger on a switch, you can count the number of caps for the backups on one hand. At any rate, few goalkeepers can match the season Thibaut Courtois has had for Atletico Madrid. Advantage: Belgium.
Belgium will win if:
Attack the Russian central defence with speed. They have plenty of experience but not the pace to deal with quick wingers and midfielders which Belgium are stocked with. Had success aerially in the first game but can't rely on that in this contest. Funnel the ball towards the penalty area and look for Hazard, Mertens and De Bruyne off ball to create scoring chances.
Russia will win if:
Pressure Belgium hard as they transition through the midfield. Best case scenario, you force turnovers and can attack with defenders out of position, worst case scenario, you allow time to shape up defensively. Russia aren't a team posed to stop Belgium on counter-attacks or break them down with slow passing. Need to create fast-break chances offensively and prevent Belgium from getting numbers or speed against their back line.
Russia will want to slow this game as much as possible and keep players back defensively. That was successful for 70 minutes against Belgium when Algeria did it but Belgium found their way through. I expect this game to play out similarly.
Belgium 2-0 Russia.
No comments:
Post a Comment