DBasia.news – Former Italy and Inter Milan coach Antonio Conte also provided his analysis of the Italy-Belgium encounter. Italy will face Belgium at the Allianz Arena, Saturday (03/07) in the quarter-finals of the 2020 European Cup.
Roberto Mancini’s Italy direction has not been touched by defeat, conceding only one goal from the group phase to the knockout phase. Italy beat Austria 2-1 in the round of 16 phase.
Meanwhile, Belgium, who is ranked number one in the world, knocked out defending champion Portugal 1-0 from Thorgan Hazard’s single goal.
Conte, who coached the Gli Azzurri five years ago when Italy won 2-0 over Belgium at Euro 2016 thinks Italy could be a hassle for Belgium.
“Italy is on par with Belgium, we can cause problems for them, win and qualify for the next stage,” Conte wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The win in the group stage shows qualities that give us a lot of hope. The match against a solid Austria was very challenging,” he added.
Italy beat Austria through goals from Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina as both came off the bench. David Alaba et al gave fierce resistance until Italy won with difficulty through extra rounds. That according to Conte is needed by Italy.
“Sometimes a narrow win can be more useful than an easy win because it makes you understand what the group already knows: there is no room for error,” added Conte.
“Every move, every pass, every tackle is decisive, and the same goes for the psychological aspect of the game. Details are often important in this game, and every player has to offer his quality to the group.”
The threat from Romelu Lukaku and the individual quality of the Belgian squad
Talking about the threat that Belgium can pose, Conte did not escape discussing his former team at Inter, Romelu Lukaku who helped La Beneamata end their wait for the Scudetto last season after last winning it in 2010.
Lukaku as well as other Belgian individual qualities can threaten the Italian defence, but Conte thinks there are weak points in Belgium that Italy can exploit. In the end Conte also believes Roberto Mancini has anticipated all the possible tactics that Roberto Martinez will play in Belgium.
“Our national team has proven to have an identity that some teams still don’t have. Belgium is a strong team, individually and collectively,” said Conte.
“Lukaku is a force of nature, but I don’t forget myself when I say that the presence or absence of (Kevin) De Bruyne and (Eden) Hazard can make a difference.
“I respect Roberto Martinez for what he has done over the last few years, but Belgium’s performance against Portugal was unconvincing, both defensively and in terms of aggressiveness.
“We can create problems for them on the wings and Jorginho’s tempo will be very important in midfield.”
“Mancini does not need advice, the Italian tactician is very well prepared tactically and Roberto will choose a team that will be able to manage every situation,” said Conte.