FWEEE!
The game started.
And immediately, both nations sought to assert dominance.
On paper, Belgium had the stronger midfield but Sweden approached this game with only one objective in mind… to win.
They would not make it easy for the Belgian players.
This was why despite the fact that Belgium had the likes of Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, and Kevin De Bruyne all in midfield, Belgium failed to assert early dominance over this game, even just the midfield battle.
Sweden met them man to man, showing exactly what they were capable of as the Swedish players abused their physicality to slow down Belgium's game.
For the first 10 minutes of the game, Kevin De Bruyne was marked and isolated, hassled by 2 players who prevented him from settling down long enough on the ball to throw his trademark deadly passes.
And with Kevin De Bruyne marked out of the game, Belgium struggled.
