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. Terry Venables's England 1996 answer with 4-4-2 and home soil with two strikers; the matchup is decided by which side can impose that identity without exposing its weakest transition.

BelgiumGuy Thys · 4-4-2 · Counter Attack · Tournament SteelEnglandTerry Venables · 4-4-2 · Home Soil · Two Strikers

400 alternate nights

Belgium vs England

Model lean: England

Signature score

1–1

average goals 1.481.55

38.3%
Belgium
21.5%
Draw
40.3%
England

Most likely scores

  1. 1–111.3%
  2. 1–09.5%
  3. 1–28.5%
  4. 0–17.8%
  5. 2–16.3%
  6. 0–26.3%

Match profile

xG1.471.53
Shots13.113.4
Poss48%52%
CS23.5%22%
BTTS58.5%
Over 2.556.5%

Goals in 400 matches

  1. BelgiumG/m
  2. Vandenbergh1990.50
  3. Claesen1530.38
  4. Vercauteren630.16
  5. Ceulemans570.14
  1. EnglandG/m
  2. Shearer2090.52
  3. Sheringham1390.35
  4. McManaman650.16
  5. Anderton640.16
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 XIEngland1996Terry Venables · 4-4-2
87OVR

XI

  • STAlan Shearer90
  • STTeddy Sheringham84
  • LMSteve McManaman86
  • CMPaul Gascoigne88
  • CMPaul Ince84
  • RMDarren Anderton82
  • LBStuart Pearce82
  • CBTony Adams86
  • CBGareth Southgate80
  • RBGary Neville82
  • GKDavid Seaman88
Bench · 7
  • STRobbie Fowler84
  • CMDavid Platt80
  • CBSol Campbell78
  • RMSteve Stone76
  • CAMNick Barmby76
  • GKIan Walker76
  • CMJamie Redknapp76

Ratings

Attack82
Midfield84
Defence80
Goalkeeping88
Chemistry90
Overall84

Ratings

Attack88
Midfield86
Defence84
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

  • STAlan Shearer90
  • STTeddy Sheringham84
  • LMSteve McManaman86
  • CMPaul Gascoigne88
  • CMPaul Ince84
  • RMDarren Anderton82
  • LBStuart Pearce82
  • CBTony Adams86
  • CBGareth Southgate80
  • RBGary Neville82
  • GKDavid Seaman88
Bench · 7
  • STRobbie Fowler84
  • CMDavid Platt80
  • CBSol Campbell78
  • RMSteve Stone76
  • CAMNick Barmby76
  • GKIan Walker76
  • CMJamie Redknapp76
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