Why this matchup matters

Two football ideas, one impossible night

Guy Thys's Belgium 1986 bring 4-4-2 and counter attack with tournament steel. Bobby Robson's England 1990 answer with 4-4-2 and direct attack with set pieces; the matchup is decided by which side can impose that identity without exposing its weakest transition.

BelgiumGuy Thys · 4-4-2 · Counter Attack · Tournament SteelEnglandBobby Robson · 4-4-2 · Direct Attack · Set Pieces

400 alternate nights

Belgium vs England

Model lean: England

Signature score

1–2

average goals 1.481.62

34.3%
Belgium
23.3%
Draw
42.5%
England

Most likely scores

  1. 1–210.5%
  2. 1–19.5%
  3. 2–27.8%
  4. 1–07.5%
  5. 0–27.2%
  6. 2–16.8%

Match profile

xG1.441.51
Shots12.913.3
Poss49%51%
CS20%23.3%
BTTS61.5%
Over 2.560.5%

Goals in 400 matches

  1. BelgiumG/m
  2. Vandenbergh2050.51
  3. Claesen1560.39
  4. Vercauteren740.18
  5. Ceulemans370.09
  1. EnglandG/m
  2. Lineker1890.47
  3. Beardsley1580.40
  4. Waddle730.18
  5. Barnes670.17
Home XIBelgium1986Guy Thys · 4-4-2
84OVR

XI

  • STNico Claesen78
  • STErwin Vandenbergh80
  • LMFranky Vercauteren82
  • CMJan Ceulemans86
  • CMEnzo Scifo86
  • CMDanny Veyt74
  • LBPatrick Vervoort76
  • CBStéphane Demol78
  • CBGeorges Grün80
  • RBEric Gerets84
  • GKJean-Marie Pfaff88
Bench · 7
  • CMRené Vandereycken80
  • CBLei Clijsters76
  • CBHugo Broos76
  • LBMichel De Wolf74
  • GKJacky Munaron74
  • RWPhilippe Desmet72
  • CMLeo Van der Elst72
Away XIEngland1990Bobby Robson · 4-4-2
87OVR

XI

  • STGary Lineker88
  • STPeter Beardsley84
  • LMJohn Barnes88
  • CMPaul Gascoigne90
  • CMDavid Platt84
  • RMChris Waddle86
  • LBStuart Pearce84
  • CBTerry Butcher84
  • CBDes Walker86
  • RBPaul Parker80
  • GKPeter Shilton88
Bench · 7
  • CBMark Wright80
  • CMSteve McMahon80
  • GKDavid Seaman80
  • STSteve Bull78
  • LBTony Dorigo76
  • RMTrevor Steven76
  • CMNeil Webb76

Ratings

Attack82
Midfield84
Defence80
Goalkeeping88
Chemistry90
Overall84

Ratings

Attack86
Midfield88
Defence86
Goalkeeping88
Chemistry90
Overall87

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XI

  • STNico Claesen78
  • STErwin Vandenbergh80
  • LMFranky Vercauteren82
  • CMJan Ceulemans86
  • CMEnzo Scifo86
  • CMDanny Veyt74
  • LBPatrick Vervoort76
  • CBStéphane Demol78
  • CBGeorges Grün80
  • RBEric Gerets84
  • GKJean-Marie Pfaff88
Bench · 7
  • CMRené Vandereycken80
  • CBLei Clijsters76
  • CBHugo Broos76
  • LBMichel De Wolf74
  • GKJacky Munaron74
  • RWPhilippe Desmet72
  • CMLeo Van der Elst72
VS

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XI

  • STGary Lineker88
  • STPeter Beardsley84
  • LMJohn Barnes88
  • CMPaul Gascoigne90
  • CMDavid Platt84
  • RMChris Waddle86
  • LBStuart Pearce84
  • CBTerry Butcher84
  • CBDes Walker86
  • RBPaul Parker80
  • GKPeter Shilton88
Bench · 7
  • CBMark Wright80
  • CMSteve McMahon80
  • GKDavid Seaman80
  • STSteve Bull78
  • LBTony Dorigo76
  • RMTrevor Steven76
  • CMNeil Webb76
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