Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard has been labelled the ‘Flop of the Match’ despite Belgium’s 3-0 win over Sweden.
Voetbal Nieuws cover the analysis of the Red Devils’ win over Sweden at the start of UEFA Euro qualifying last night, with a hattrick from Romelu Lukaku sealing a comfortable win and flying start for Domenico Tedesco.
Trossard started the game as part of a front three alongside Lukaku and Dodi Lukebakio, with Tedesco giving him his chance to impress following Eden Hazard’s retirement.
The forward has been in fine form this season, impressing at Brighton earlier in the season before joining Arsenal in January and continuing to shine.
It seems he was unable to do that for his nation, though, with several outlets unimpressed by what they saw.
Voetbal Nieuws explain that RTBF designated the player at the ‘Flop of the Match and criticising his lack of involvement.
“Sometimes too low on the pitch, sometimes absent … Trossard experienced a difficult evening,” they stated.
“He never really got his head above water. The author of dangerous ball loss shortly before half-time, he was substituted after an hour.
“We can rest assured: the Arsenal player has plenty of qualities, he will no doubt recover quickly. But this evening he will want to forget quickly.”
Het Laatste Nieuws echo those sentiments, believing that the decision to put Trossard as more of a number ten did not work out for Belgium’s new boss.
“Leandro was fairly invisible. Worked hard. But the love-hate relationship with the national team remains for a while,” they added while Het Nieuwsblad stated he “should become Hazard’s natural successor, but that didn’t come out. Fell back deep sometimes just to hit the ball anyway.”
All in all, then, a bad evening for the Arsenal man, who will be hoping he can come out with more positive reviews when they travel to Germany in three days’ time.
