Kevin De Bruyne produced an attacking masterclass as new Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco made it two wins in as many video games with a 3-2 pleasant triumph at Germany on Tuesday.
Tedesco’s tenure began with a 3-0 victory over Sweden in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, and Belgium, impressed by new captain De Bruyne, impressed once more at RheinEnergieStadion.
Germany had no reply inside the primary 9 minutes in Cologne as De Bruyne teed up targets for Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.
Niclas Fullkrug’s Forty fourth-minute penalty supplied Hansi Flick’s hosts hope, however De Bruyne’s slick 78th-minute end ensured one other victory at first of a promising period below Tedesco as Serge Gnabry’s late reply counted for little.
Ooooh Kevin De Bruyne! pic.twitter.com/ecAgya0h3u
— Belgian Crimson Devils (@BelRedDevils) March 28, 2023
Carrasco fired Belgium right into a sixth-minute lead after reducing inside from De Bruyne’s pinpoint go earlier than coolly blasting into the roof of the web.
One other delicate De Bruyne throughball teed up Belgium’s second, Lukaku racing by way of and lofting over an onrushing Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Dodi Lukebakio inexplicably dragged a wonderful likelihood broad earlier than Lukaku headed onto the crossbar from De Bruyne’s nook, prompting Flick to make two Thirty second-minute modifications.
The injured Leon Goretzka and Florian Wirtz made manner for Felix Nmecha and Emre Can, with Germany responding as Fullkrug transformed his penalty after Lukaku was adjudged to have dealt with.
Germany ramped up the strain after the interval as Gnabry smashed simply broad earlier than Timo Werner noticed a strike dominated out for offside. Joshua Kimmich additionally went shut with a whistling low strike.
However De Bruyne put the sport out of attain, ending into the bottom-right nook from Leandro Trossard’s offload, making Gnabry’s late strike from Kevin Schade’s low cross – shortly after hitting the publish – a mere comfort.
22 males chase a ball for 90 minutes and on the finish, the Belgians win. #GERBEL #WirSchaffenDas pic.twitter.com/gnRhmuIM7k
— Belgian Crimson Devils (@BelRedDevils) March 28, 2023
What does it imply? Flick warning as Belgium earn uncommon Germany win
Flick’s facet do not need to qualify for Euro 2024 on account of internet hosting the match, however Germany can not afford such early lapses in focus at that showpiece competitors.
Belgium had not crushed their hosts since 1954 however raced into the ascendancy after eight minutes and 26 seconds – their earliest 2-0 lead since February 2003 in opposition to Algeria.
Regardless of bettering in response, Germany should present extra if they’re to construct forward of the Euros, with Flick needing a powerful residence efficiency after their group-stage exit on the World Cup in Qatar.
De Bruyne and Lukaku shine
Lukaku’s treble in opposition to Sweden noticed him be a part of Robert De Veen on three hat-tricks for his or her nation, the joint-most for Belgium.
The Inter loanee as soon as once more discovered the web right here to proceed his spectacular type below Tedesco, though he couldn’t have executed so with out De Bruyne, who created a game-leading three possibilities to go along with his aim.
Fullkrug on fireplace
Fullkrug needed to wait till November 2022 for his Germany debut in a pre-World Cup pleasant in opposition to Oman – however he definitely has not regarded again since then.
The Werder Bremen striker has scored six targets in his first six worldwide appearances, with no Germany participant this century managing as many targets of their first half-dozen outings.
Didn’t take his eyes off the keeper
targets in video games for Niclas Füllkrug #GERBEL 1-2 pic.twitter.com/IKMH4tfdVY
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 28, 2023
What’s subsequent?
Belgium return to Euro 2024 qualifying motion once they host Austria on June 17, whereas Germany are but to verify their subsequent pleasant opponents.
