Paul Fennessy reports from Bordeaux
BELGIUM COACH MARC Wilmots was in buoyant form after seeing his side outclass Ireland earlier.
If there was a Belgian football equivalent of Joe Brolly, he would probably have asked “what do you think of that?”
Despite having only lost three competitive games in over four years as manager, Wilmots and his team were criticised heavily in the wake of a 2-0 loss against Italy in their opening Euro 2016 match.
Wilmots and his coaching staff did their homework ahead of the Ireland game, playing down comparisons with the Italy defeat by stating that it was “a completely different context”.
“We analysed Ireland’s game,” the 47-year-old coach said.
“They chose a different strategy today.
We knew if they played in diamond, we would have opportunity to get full-backs up.
“We chose to play short passes and we waited for the right time.”
He continued: “We had studied the Irish game in detail — that’s why I chose the team I chose today.
The players had to apply the strategy and I congratulate them (for doing so).
“We had a ball cleared off the line (at 0-0 in the first half) and I thought, we have to remain calm.”
Wilmots refused to say what he told dropped players Marouane Fellaini, Radja Nainggolan and Laurent Ciman, but indicated that each individual case was handled differently.
“The players knew who was going to be play but not in what position,” Wilmots added, explaining that he revealed the exact formation closer to kick-off.
Wilmots, an ex-Belgian international’s who is the team’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup, also admitted he had “bluffed” earlier in the week, when he had hinted Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku could be dropped for the Irish match.
The coach also seemed to feel that Ireland could be outclassed technically. Of the decision to replace Nainggolan with Dembele, the coach explained that the Tottenham man “keeps hold of the ball very well,” adding: “I wanted some technical players in the middle (against Ireland).”
Elaborating on his team’s approach, Wilmots had a dig at those in the media who had criticised Belgium following the Italy loss, indicating that certain journalists were “manipulating the people”.
We’re not going to play defensively, otherwise you would be sacking me all over over again — don’t worry I’m used to it
“After four years of success, when we get criticism it’s like that success disappeared.
Sometimes the criticism is manipulation. Apart from death, I don’t know what else could affect me.
“I hope the country is proud of us… People being negative is not interesting, I want to be around positive people. People who criticise are not going to have a good life.”
Of 23-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku, the coach added: “He scored four goals in his last four matches, but when he missed opportunity against Italy, people were (criticising him).
I prefer that he runs hard for 70 minutes, and then he can be substituted.
“He was ready for the team today and played a great game.”
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