In the one-eighth final of the UEFA European Cup on July 2, Beijing time, Belgium defeated France by 0-1, and did not reach the top eight. After the match, Belgium goalkeeper Castells was interviewed and reflected deeply on the match.
The Pain of Loss and the Opportunity
Castells began by expressing his sadness at the loss, arguing that being eliminated is never pleasant. He admitted that both sides had their chances in this game, but France did not play their best, while Belgium also failed to be at their best. He pointed out that although Belgium had more possession at the back, these possessions were not really threatening and the game often depended on the details or the play of individual ability, and it was a long range shot that broke the deadlock for France.
Tactical Gaming and Detailed Decisions
Asked if the game was more of a "chess game" between Belgium and France, Castells agreed. He believes that France changed their tactics a bit, while Belgium watched and waited to see if the other team would put pressure on them. However, the game was more of a tactical game, with neither side creating much danger for the other. He emphasized the importance of details in a game like this, where a single action can make the difference between victory and defeat.
Lack of ball control and pressure response
Talking about whether Belgium were in control of the game, Castells said that although they were in control at times, they should have applied higher pressure. He mentioned that France pressed Belgium in their own box at times, at which point Belgium needed to be quicker to clear the ball to prevent shots on goal. He admitted that Belgium didn't do enough in terms of ball control and didn't control the long ball well. He believes that if they can do better in these areas, Belgium may be able to find more breakthrough opportunities.
Looking ahead and sustaining efforts
Despite the loss in this match, Castells has not lost his confidence. He believes that the Belgian team is capable of achieving better results in future matches. He emphasized that the team needs to continue to work hard to improve tactical execution and ball control, and to maintain a higher degree of concentration and pressure coping ability in the game. Only in this way can the team better grasp the opportunities and achieve breakthroughs in the coming matches.
