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BEST OF THE LOT

By Ratul Ghosh

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romelu lukaku, rui patricio, diogo jota, thorgan hazard

The round-of-16 of the European Championships has thrown up some intriguing ties for all involved. One of the grandest amongst them is poised to be Belgium taking on Portugal. Roberto Martinez’s side won all of their group games while Portugal stuttered and fought to eventually make it through.

Nevertheless, it is set up to be a fascinating encounter between two nations who possess a plethora of riches at all positions of the pitch. FootTheBall presents to you the combined XI for this fixture and why this match is a must-watch.

 

GOALKEEPER- RUI PATRICIO

One of the many tough choices that will define this list. Courtois is a fantastic keeper on any given day and can compete with the world’s best. However, he has had little to do so far in the tournament and that is why we go with Rui Patricio. The Wolves custodian has been in fine form given the fact that Portugal have been under the pump defensively. Though he was beaten four times against Germany, none of them were squarely his fault.

 

 

Patricio made up for that terrible Selecao display by producing a wonderful save from Paul Pogba last night. After tipping his fierce long-range shot onto the crossbar, he got up immediately to deny Antoine Griezman on the rebound. Coupled with his leadership skills and calmness in the box, Patricio will surely be a strong wall between Belgium and the goal.

 

RIGHT WINGBACK- THOMAS MEUNIER

Meunier had a fantastic start to the Euros, picking up a goal and an assist against the Russians. After injury ruled Timothy Castagne out, Meunier is guaranteed to be the starter against Portugal. He likes to get forward often and will be a threat for the Portuguese left-back. Indeed, Meunier will draw the attention of the left side of his opponents which can be doubly beneficial for the Red Devils. 

 

 

Meunier also has the license to roam around the edge of the penalty box while his team is attacking so that he can pick up the ball quickly. In defence, he will be a hefty opponent to get past given his big frame and propensity to put pressure when Belgium is not in possession of the ball.

 

CENTRE BACK- PEPE

The ageing workhorse has shown that he can still mix it up with the best in the business. He has a passing accuracy in the high 80s and remains a key threat in the air. Even though he does not have the pace he once possessed, his strength and hard tackling nature will be crucial in stopping Romelu Lukaku from advancing.

 

 

Indeed, Pepe will be relishing this matchup given that his partner Ruben Dias has been having an ordinary tournament by his standards. Fernando Santos will turn to his trusted aide once again to make sure this leaky defence stays intact in front of the famed Red Devils offence.

 

CENTRE BACK- TOBY ALDERWEIRELD

The Tottenham defender has developed into a fantastic passer over the years. He is a keen mover of the ball, completing 100 passes against Russia in the opening match. Alderweireld is also extremely mobile without the ball and has enough speed to cover onrushing attackers. He can read the game very well and put in challenges at the right moments which will be a key facet while facing the Portuguese frontline.

 

 

Belgium’s defence has been pointed as the one weak link of the top team but with a rested Alderweireld back in the line-up, they can surely be more than just making up the numbers at the back.

 

LEFT WINGBACK- THORGAN HAZARD

The younger of the Hazard brothers has been a revelation at wingback for the Red Devils. His pace with the ball and his attacking disposition make him a considerable threat. A case can be made that he ignores his defensive duties at times but his speed across the pitch gives him enough time to trackback.

 

 

Furthermore, he is also a keen crosser of the ball by taking it to the byline and aiming for the bodies in the middle. His expertise from set-pieces will also add another layer of threat for Portugal as their flanks will have to be well-guarded.

 

CENTRE MIDFIELDER- YOURI TIELEMANS

The 24-year-old has not lit up the tournament yet but plays a vital role in the Red Devils setup. By staying across the middle of the park, he allows the other attack minded players to get forward. He likes to orchestrate from behind and is helped by his exquisite passing range from any distance. This tie against Portugal seems like the perfect time for him to rediscover his club form. 

 

 

Tielemans is also adept at taking on shots from long range which will come in handy given the shakiness of the Selecao’s defence. However, his main attraction remains how creatively he gets the ball forward and starts an attack when in possession.

 

CENTRE MIDFIELDER- RENATO SANCHES

The Ligue 1 winner has lit up the tournament by providing a dominant display against France. Sanches provided the much needed youthful burst of energy required in a mostly unimaginative midfield for Santos’ side. Given how badly Bruno Fernandes performed in the first two matches, Sanches repaid the faith shown in him by dictating the tempo of the game.

 

 

Though he cannot do it alone, of course, it is a much needed positive for a team that is reliant on the prowess of its frontline. Still only 23-years-old, if Sanches can make good use of the ball and help out Ronaldo and co. upfront in this pivotal clash against Belgium, his stock will only rise across the transfer market.

 

ATTACKING MIDFIELDER- KEVIN DE BRUYNE

It really took De Bruyne only a game and a half to assert his status as one of the world’s best. With a goal and two assists to his name already, the Man City maestro is leading the way for Belgium in terms of creating chances. Not only is he an extraordinary passer of the ball, but De Bruyne also likes taking on defenders and beating them with trickery.

 

 

His ability to navigate small gaps and lay off the ball is a crucial asset for any team. De Bruyne’s connection with Lukaku has also been a huge positive for Belgium in their quest to score more goals. Portugal will need to keep a very close eye on him if they are to keep his talents to a minimum. 

 

FORWARD- DIOGO JOTA

The Liverpool forward has been having a good tournament so far, taking on shots and getting in good spaces. His speed and skill of getting away from defenders has seen him become the second most potent threat of the team after Cristiano Ronaldo. Jota has been deployed on the left of the front three by Santos but he can switch effortlessly across the line.

 

 

That has helped him see a lot of the ball in the opening three games. If he can continue to increase his efficiency in front of goal coupled with better linkup play, Jota can really be a handful to deal with. With one goal and one assist already, and the midfield not providing much support, he is most firmly the perfect foil for Ronaldo in attack.

 

FORWARD- ROMELU LUKAKU

Lukaku has been as imperious at the Euros as he was over Inter’s title-winning campaign. The Serie A MVP has scored three goals but it is his wider game that has earned the most plaudits. Indeed, Lukaku has developed into an adept all-round attacker who can brilliantly use his strength and speed against defenders.

 

 

He is a threat in the air around both boxes and regularly outmuscles opponents while attacking. Furthermore, his accuracy from in front of goal is deadly as he strikes his shots ferociously which leaves goalkeepers grasping at thin air. Now that De Bruyne and him are linking up regularly, the duo will cause a lot of headaches for the Portuguese backline.

 

FORWARD- CRISTIANO RONALDO

The certified greatest goal scorer in the history of men’s football, Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down. Already racking up five goals and one assist, the 36-year-old is the central threat for any opponent he faces. With his supreme jumps, unerring accuracy and fantastic speed across the field, Ronaldo will be hungry for scoring more.

 

 

His affinity from long range will also keep Belgian defenders on their toes while it is hard to see how they can stop him one-on-one. Ronaldo can also draw out defenders, allowing his teammates to attack quickly into the empty space which will be another worry. 

Ratul Ghosh
His name means Red and a fan of devilish food, which equals to his favourite team being Manchester United. Can be found sleeping or in front of the TV otherwise. Hates waking up early but loves staying up late for football.

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