Mark van Bommel lacks a plan B against Rudi Garcia

Mark van Bommel sees Belgium hold out for seventy minutes against France before cracking, while Rudi Garcia notes the gap between their tactical approaches. Analyst Marc Degryse points out the lack of alternative solutions as the Red Devils slow down in the second half.

The lack of a plan B

Marc Degryse laments the lack of solutions when the Red Devils slowed their tempo after seventy minutes. “You are unable to maintain a result twice against France. Yet, in both matches, you showed good, commendable intentions as a team,” he said.

For Degryse, the Red Devils are progressing under Mark van Bommel, but that is no longer enough. He believes the progress is insufficient to achieve a result against the big nations, especially after the 4‑1 defeat to France.

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The coach had emphasized that it was only a matter of time before Belgium would beat a big nation again. But Degryse qualifies: “How long have we been saying that after each defeat to the French?” He points out that it is not a question of quality, but of match management.

In those moments, you need to be able to rely on a plan B, Degryse says. This plan B can take the form of a more defensive option, with an extra player in front of the back line, or a more offensive choice, by bringing on fresh players capable of making a difference at the end of the game.

“After the 1‑1, I was one hundred percent sure we were going to crack. We felt that there was no longer any alternative,” he added.

Degryse looks ahead to November, when Belgium will face Italy at home. “That is the step toward a result I am expecting in November, at home against Italy. Because that will be a match we must win. Then van Bommel’s honeymoon will be over,” he concluded.