Belgium CT Johan Walem admits Federico Chiesa is the player ‘that’s impressed me the most’ ahead of his country’s final Euro U21 match against Italy.
Belgium will have nothing to play for on Saturday after defeats to Poland and Spain, whereas Chiesa starred in Italy’s opener against Spain, the Fiorentina winger scoring a brace in a 3-1 win.
“We must attack Italy,” Walem, an ex-Parma and Udinese midfielder, said at a Press conference.
Belgium CT Johan Walem admits Federico Chiesa is the player ‘that’s impressed me the most’ ahead of his country’s final Euro U21 match against Italy.
Belgium will have nothing to play for on Saturday after defeats to Poland and Spain, whereas Chiesa starred in Italy’s opener against Spain, the Fiorentina winger scoring a brace in a 3-1 win.
“We must attack Italy,” Walem, an ex-Parma and Udinese midfielder, said at a Press conference.
“We have to watch out for the pace of Italian strikers. Italy have patterns of play drilled into them.
“It’s up to me to make my players understand what they have to do. The teams we’ve faced so far have put us in some difficulty.
“You can win or lose. Against Spain, Italy could’ve lost. Against Poland, it became difficult for us once they had scored.
“But, for us, this tournament is a unique opportunity to measure ourselves at European level. Italy, on the other hand, have ambitions of winning [the competition].
“In recent years, Italy have made great strides at both senior and Under-21 level. They have technique, grit, individual quality, movement.
“Chiesa is the player that’s impressed me the most. He has that extra edge. But it’s hard to pick just one player.
“There are at least 5-6 players who I think have something extra.”