Brace yourselves... (going to sleep soon)

Got work tomorrow. Can't stay up too late. Final last 16 fixture of the day.

Magyarország versus Koninkrijk België/Royaume de Belgique/Königreich Belgien

Pretty sure this post will be gone in 60 secs. Anyway, let's get straight to the point, shall we? Most likely the question on everyone's lips is this: Will we see the Hungarian (bus) express? At this point of time, it seems that Marc "not Jacobs" Wilmots may have found a magic formula to address the defensive frailty which had dogged De Rode Duivels/Les Diables Rouges/Die Roten Teufel prior to the tournament. Credit to Wilmots here (and possibly Michel "not Platini" Sablon as well since he's currently in France watching his nation playing live). Against Italy, the firing squad could not shoot straight (it's either that or Conte was out to close shop. More on that in a future post). Against Ireland, the opposition became a victim of fast counterattacking football. When it comes to Sweden, this was where positive signs in the defensive dept started to rear its beautiful head.

Mr Sablon said that his beloved devils tend to play better against teams which are to attack instead of parking the bus (or at least that's what he may have implied). Both on paper and logically speaking, Hungary will surely park the bus. But that's where the simple part ends.

Hungary will not want to make up the numbers here. Currently the surprise package of the tournament, surely Nemzeti Tizenegy would have taken heart in the Tale of Two Irelands. If the Belgians are all about technique and finesse, then the Hungarians are all about pace and tenacity.

Possible approach

Both are doing a 4-2-3-1, the new look of modern day football. The interesting thing about 4-2-3-1 lies in the fact that it offers quite a bit of tactical flexibility. In short, it's a question of how far you want to push rather than a zero sum 4-3-3/4-4-1/4-5-1/whatever formation. This will be my question as well (not that I can watch this match since I need to sleep soon). How far is Belgium willing to stretch the Hungarians? How far is Hungary willing disrupt play? Key to how the match will pan out is dependant on the open space between the back 6 and firing 4.

Something tells me that Hungary will not park the bus despite what others may say. The danger behind such an approach lies in this guy below.

I'm not referring to that guy in the picture, I'm talking about another guy named Kevin "not De Brünnhilde" De Bruyne. Def the architect of all things offensive (in a footballing sense ofc), it seems that he's relishing the freedom a certain George "best of the best in Belfast" Best had enjoyed under the late Sir Matt Busby. If Best was all about pace and trickery, then De Bruyne is all about brilliance with the ball. He's not exactly the fastest man alive in the country (that'd most likely be Eden "the Duke of Hazard" Hazard), but he's possibly the smartest guy in the dressing room. While he's deployed mainly in hole 9, De Bruyne is nevertheless capable of drifting towards the right in order to keep the opposition guessing. Hungary cannot afford to give him the time and space on the ball. Against Hazard, they can just lock him out of their own half. Against De Bruyne, this isn't gonna work. Hungary will have no choice but to park the bus upfront instead of doing so in front of goal.

And before I go to sleep...

Let me just say that the key for Belgium to win this one is never about De Bruyne or Hazard. How Wilmots will play his hand in the central mid dept will be key to whether Belgium can weather the Hungarian storm. Someone has to link up play from the back to the midfield further upfront, just don't ask me who. At the same time, the very same central midfield has to ensure Hungary doesn't overrun the middle 3rd (something which isn't beyond their physical style of play). The moment Wilmots can strike a perfect balance between holding the fort and linking the fort, Hungary will be in trouble. Conversely speaking, it also means Hungary needs to find a way to disrupt the Belgian tempo via the open space between their four by two and the rest.

I doubt this match will be a pretty one. Despite Belgium's pedigree and Hungary's aggression, I suspect we may see a somewhat cagey affair in the middle 3rd where one false move will be tantamount to suicide.

What? That's it? Nothing more to add?

Answer is no. C'mon, you really think I don't have a life?