Italy Exploit Tottenham’s Greatest Weakness in Win Over Belgium

Tottenham’s Belgium contingent is second only to the English in terms of how celebrated it is among the club’s fanbase.

The centre-back pair of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld proved to be the standout Belgians of the squad this past season — even if Mousa Dembélé might have a thing or two to say about that. Belgian fans no doubt would salivate at the chance to see those two team up once again for their home country in this summer’s European Championship in France.

If he had his druthers, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots would be politely declining to play Vertonghen and Alderweireld in their usual positions for Tottenham. Instead, he’d shift them out wide into the full-back roles, where both players have traditionally played over the past few years.

Injuries to Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany and Zenit St. Peterburg’s Nicolas Lombaerts more of less forced Wilmots hand however, and he conceded a place in the center of defense for Alderweireld for Monday’s Euro 2016 opener against Italy, with Vertonghen still fielded at left-back.

More from Hotspur HQ

• Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
• Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
• Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
• Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
• Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help

Anyone who glanced at the scoreline for that game might accurately guess at how well that worked out. Belgium lost 2-0 in the face of a master class in defending from Antonio Conte’s Italy. Through some excellent coordination and great midfield work, Italy were able to nullify Belgium’s considerable attacking threat.

None of which should be a surprise considering Italy’s long history of defensive aptitude. What was shocking — and what ultimately condemned Belgium to defeat — was Italy’s willingness to speed forward when in possession.

Without any true creative midfielders to thread through balls in and around Belgium’s backline, the Italians relied more heavily on the pace of their wing-backs, darting runs from central midfield and long balls sent over the top of Belgium’s ragtag defense.

It’s that latter technique that beautifully set up Italy’s first goal. Leonardo Bonucci — given plenty of time on the ball at the center of Italy’s three-man defense — saw Emanuele Giaccherini’s darting run from midfield and punted an accurate long ball upfield.

Observant Tottenham fans will have immediately shivered a bit as the ball sailed through to the gap between Alderweireld and Belgium right-back Laurent Ciman. For all his strengths put on full display this season at Tottenham, dealing with aerial threats was not among them.

Indeed, among all Premier League centre-backs with 10 or more appearances, Alderweireld ranked 50th out of 55 with 1.6 aerial duels won per 90 minutes (all stats per WhoScored). Especially when paired with Vertonghen’s not-much-better 1.9 aerials duels won per 90, Tottenham’s ability to deal will balls over the top was effectively nil.

Thanks in large part to the coordinated pressing high up the pitch, that vulnerability was rarely exposed. Defenders and midfielders rarely ever had enough time on the ball to accurately punt long upfield to an attacker waiting to exploit Tottenham’s centre-backs.

Belgium has no such pressing system in place. Italy’s three centre-backs — and the deeper-lying central midfielders — were able to operate under relatively little pressure, allowing such passes as Bonucci’s to find Giaccherini for the opening goal. It would not be a surprise if Conte designed such a play specifically with Alderweireld or Vertonghen in mind.

Next: Harry Redknapp: Tottenham full-backs key to Wales game

The rest of Italy’s forays forward in attack might not have been as numerous as Belgium’s, but when they did get in from of goal they were far more likely to score. Though they recorded 12 shots to Belgium’s 18, six of them were on target while Belgium only managed two on Gianluigi Buffon’s goal.

In sum, Wilmots isn’t enjoying the same success with two of Tottenham’s star defenders as you might have expected. Part of likely comes down to Vertonghen not being in central defense. Even if those two were to be at the middle of Belgium’s backline, they would still be lacking the systematic pressing that makes them ultimately so much more effective at Tottenham.