Sergen Yalçın’s Belgium plan: formations and player roles

According to Hürriyet, Sergen Yalçın’s plan for the national team against Belgium combines defensive discipline with quick attacking transitions. Preparations have included a review of mistakes in the 3-0 defeat in Belgium, with different formations planned for when the team has possession and when the opposition has the ball. The priority is to maintain defensive security against Belgium’s physical strength.

The main points of the game plan

The national team is expected to play 4-2-3-1 in possession and 4-4-2 out of possession.
The full-backs are not expected to attack simultaneously, to avoid leaving space behind the defence.
Well-timed, coordinated pressing will be preferred to a constant high press.
Set pieces will aim to make use of Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s deliveries and players who are strong in the air.

How will the players’ roles be divided?

Under the division of responsibilities described in the report, İsmail Yüksek will be tasked with breaking up opposition attacks and winning possession. Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu will dictate play, while Arda Güler will have a free role at the heart of the attack. Ball-winning, directing play and shaping attacks will therefore be shared among different midfielders.

On the flanks, the plan is to create chances through Barış Alper Yılmaz’s pace and Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s overlapping runs. Those attacking duties will come with the restriction that the full-backs must not push forward together. According to the report, the reason is to avoid leaving space behind the defence for Belgium’s physically strong, quick and effective attackers.

Pressing and transition plans after the 3-0 defeat

Hürriyet reports that the mistakes made in the 3-0 defeat in Belgium were reviewed in detail. One decision arising from that analysis is to favour well-timed, coordinated pressing over a constant, disjointed high press.

Once possession is regained, the aim is to play forward quickly and directly. Defensively, the team will look to close the gaps between its lines and control the centre of midfield. The reported plan places greater emphasis on coordinated movement and moving the ball quickly into attack than on pressing continuously.

Set pieces are also seen as another route to goal. With Hakan Çalhanoğlu delivering the ball, the aim is to create chances for players who are strong in the air, particularly Merih Demiral. These are tactical intentions described in the report, not outcomes already achieved in a match.

Questions about the Belgium plan

Why will the national team use two different formations?

According to the plan reported by Hürriyet, the team will play 4-2-3-1 in possession and switch to 4-4-2 when the opposition has the ball, closing the gaps between its lines. Defensive security will be the priority behind that change.