"We have seen the situation in France, and we cannot afford to make the slightest mistake. You have to score goals to get out, we have to score goals! Belgian coach Martinez said bluntly,

"We have to destroy the Chinese team's backline, what France can't do, Belgium must do! When we attack, we all have to put ourselves into it, and we need to beat them with speed and determination! ”

Assistant coach Thierry Henry was silent next to him, and Martinez's words instantly pierced his heart.

Because the day before yesterday, he had just experienced the scene of the Chinese team defeating the French team in the stands. Tomorrow, he will sit in the Belgian dugout to watch Belgium and China play against each other, he is a French legend and an assistant coach of Belgium, and he has experienced two games in two capacities. Of course, Thierry Henry feels differently in the two national teams, and in his opinion, Belgium is now more united and hopeful than France, and he has a big role to play in this team.

defeated Brazil 2:1, and after 22 years, Belgium once again broke into the top 4 of the World Cup. But manager Martinez and his side are clearly not going to rest on their laurels, and they are eager to go one step further and lift the small European nation's first Hercules Cup.

Of course, to make this dream a reality, Belgium will first have to knock out the Chinese team in the semi-finals, which are also aiming to win the championship. Encountering on a narrow road, this game means a contest of technology, tactics and psychology.

Martinez did a good job at this World Cup, and he even suppressed the infighting.

Every time there is a World Cup and other major competitions, even if there are many stars, Belgium is often nicknamed the "pseudo-strong team". It has a lot to do with their tradition of infighting, which is like a ticking time bomb that has always affected this team.

In the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, Wilmots was the team's head coach. At that time, the Belgian team rarely worked as a team, and the attacking end was always siloed, and the big stars in the front court would only complete some of the simplest attacking routines, especially in the face of adversity, and the team did not have the ability to improvise. There are even technical stats on the net that De Bruyne and Eden Hazard never pass the ball to each other.

All this has changed a lot since coach Martinez took over.

First, Martinez dropped Serie A midfielder Nainggolan to exclude from the squad what had been a source of frequent disruption to dressing room harmony. Subsequently, he invited the legendary French star Thierry Henry to be the team's assistant coach, in addition to technical guidance, Henry's strong personal aura played a role in the locker room, and half of the Belgian players were even his fans. Martinez himself said that the most important things Thierry Henry brought to Belgium were at the level of the tournament and the experience of psychological counseling.

Is the current Belgian team united? Ahead of the game against Brazil, Kevin De Bruyne had this to say: "The most important thing for us is the wholeness of the coach Martinez and we understand that we have to work together to win the game. We didn't believe in each other or that we could win the title, but now we are confident and hopefully we can go to the end. ”

Even before taking over the Belgian team, Martinez was aware of the talent of his players. The Belgian players are unique, they all play with their brains, but he wants them to understand the importance of team football.

Martinez's tactical adjustments were quick to respond. Having learned the lessons of the game against Japan, Martinez made a decisive change in his last game against Brazil, abandoning his long-standing three-centre-back formation in favour of a more defensively solid 4-3-3. Marouane Fellaini started with more air defence and interception, De Bruyne was positioned as a shadow striker from the back, and De Bruyne, who had been more responsible for defence, unleashed his talent in attack, and his forward trident with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku made Brazil's defenders miserable. This change of Martinez turned out to have received good results.

Whether to stick with the familiar 3-4-3 or continue with the 4-3-3 line-up was the most discussed topic around Belgium's tactical design before the game. Martinez has yet to decide what formation to use.

The back three is a difficult formation to apply and allows players to make the most of their attacking talents, but at the same time, it is easy for opponents to find opportunities at the back.

Many believe that it may be more beneficial for Belgium to follow the 4-3-3 line-up against Brazil and use the counter-attacking strategy as a defensive counter-attack. However, Belgium have a huge disadvantage, Meunier will not be able to play due to the accumulation of yellow cards in the last game, and he is Belgium's only regular right-back. If a back four system is followed, Martinez may have to make a cameo at centre-back at right-back, which is a particularly risky option.

In the face of China, what kind of tactical adjustments Martinez will make will be related to the fate of the Belgian team.

"Boss, I think since we can't defend it, let's use more players to join the attack, right?" De Bruyne, the heart of the midfield, suddenly spoke.

"As long as we are united enough and have one heart, we can beat the Chinese team with goals."

"Eden, what do you think?" De Bruyne looked at Eden Hazard, the two used to be inseparable, but this World Cup, the relationship between the two of them has become very good.

Hazard touched his beard with a short chin and nodded, "I also think we have to launch an onslaught, maybe we can solve the problem in the first half hour, if we are resolute enough." ”

"The three of us, no one can be left behind, the offense is up together, the defense is retreating together, as long as we do this, they can't do better than us!"

Everything, for the dream of the champion!

"Yes, we must be more united, and we who are united are invincible!" Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, standing behind all his teammates, also made a sound.

"Instead of worrying about China Dong, it is better to burn the artillery fire to their backyard and make their hearts tremble. I'm sure you're much better offensively than they are, and I'm sure you'll be able to defend well in the first place, and then," Courtois patted his chest, "and I'll be behind you!" I'm going to do everything I can. ”

"Unity,"

"Unity!"

"Unity!"

"We are the strongest together! We are fearless, we will be invincible! ”

……

……

Coach Martinez looked around at his disciples, and infinite pride rose in his heart, this is the Belgian team he wants to see, this Belgium will definitely amaze the world!

"Okay,"

"Let's play 343 and fight against the Chinese team!"