Subs to the rescue as Belgium win ugly

Belgium 2 Algeria 1

It can be the difference between good and great and that’s exactly what happened here for a Belgian side of talent but not experience, expectation but perhaps not knowhow.

Indeed for all their flaws in terms of Eden Hazard’s positioning, Kevin de Bruyne’s influence, Roman Lukaku’s isolation, and makeshift full-backs that led to such a struggle, winning ugly can bring the biggest lift. And this sure was ugly.

The opening half in particular might be considered acceptable for an also-ran, but for the most expensive squad here it was beyond poor. Belgium looked stumped as to why nothing was happening given reputation, control of possession and potential for creativity.

Meanwhile even before they took the lead on 24 minutes, there was plenty to suggest Algeria were here with the fearlessness of a nation without a World Cup victory since before any of their squad was born. Granted their spot kick may have had them thinking West Germany 1982 rather than the Chile win that followed at that tournament.

At that point in the game, if Belgium couldn’t exploit their own strengths, Algeria certainly exploited their opponent’s weakness. It’s been well flagged how Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen are centre-halves being asked to play out of position and when Algeria broke, they were both in trouble. Faouzi Ghoulam sped up left, he crossed from space although most likely beyond everyone, but Vertonghen had lost man, position and ultimately sense.

He needlessly hauled down Sofiane Feghouli in desperation and the same player rattled the net and Belgium from the spot.

“It’s adds to it being a major disappointment and we are sorry, I deeply regret the result,” Algerian manager Vahid Halilhodic said.

“We missed a great opportunity but in the second-half it was a bit tough. As regards the second goal though, I’ve a question. I wonder was there a foul in the build-up. We should have had a draw. This was the difference, a refereeing problem, and it’s a problem for smaller teams.”

It seemed a harsh assessment of the officials as, in truth, what happened Algeria was more to do with them rather than referee or even Belgium for that matter. In short, they lost a shape that De Bruyne — a bizarre choice of man-of-the-match — admitted had them in trouble.

Before the equaliser, De Bruyne never looked comfortable with the claustrophobia of 11 men back. Meanwhile Hazard, capable of beating defenders on the few occasions he got the ball, was doing so in positions so wide that the end result was more likely a cross than a thread.

But changes at the break made a massive difference with Marouane Fellaini providing a presence in the box and the highly-impressive Dries Mertens providing the direct attacking, pace and intent that had been missing.

Both substitutions scored and in fairness it was De Bruyne and Hazard that created the goals. On 70 minutes, a cross from the former was met by a flicked header from Fellaini for his first goal — 10 months and a €?27.5m transfer since his last. Then on 80minutes, the latter found space after break, his pass against a split defence was key, and Mertens’ finish summed up his performance.

“At half-time we were a bit down but I said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll score and we’ll change the course of the match,” assured Belgian coach Marc Wilmots. “We did that and I think we deserved it.

“We knew we had to be patient. There were a number of minor mistakes but we were very calm. In the dressing room I had written we had a good squad and substitutions would happen and I think that was vital.”

BELGIUM: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vertonghen, Witsel, Dembele (Fellaini 65), Chadli (Mertens 46), De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku (Origi 58).

ALGERIA: M’Bolhi, Halliche, Bougherra, Medjani (Ghilas 84), Ghoulam, Bentaleb, Mostefa,Taider, Mahrez (Lacen 71), Soudani (Slimani 66), Feghouli.

Referee: Marco Rodriguez (Mexico).