Wout Faes and Randal Kolo Muani fight for the ball. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Leicester City defender Wout Faes has come under fire for his performance in Belgium’s 2-1 defeat to France in the UEFA Nations League.
As is often the case these days, Faes played the full 90 minutes as the Red Devils were beaten in Brussels on Monday.
The defeat leaves Belgium third in Group A2, five points behind France and six behind leaders Italy, with their hopes of reaching the final now very slim. Instead, Belgium is more likely to play a relegation playoff match with a second-placed team in Group B.
Faes completed 37 of his 41 passing attempts on the night, including four of his five long ball attempts.
The 26-year-old also posted good defensive numbers, making six clearances, three recoveries and a block, while winning three of his five aerial duels.
However, Faes suffered a disastrous moment in the 34th minute when he fell inside his own area and stopped Bradley Barcola’s run with his arm, giving away a penalty which was kicked by Randal Kolo Muani.
Faes also dribbled three times on the night and lost all four floor duels contested.
Wout Faes fails to impress in Belgium defeat
After such a glaring error, it probably won’t be a surprise to see Faes ripped apart by the Belgian media, especially after a lackluster performance in the 2-2 draw with Italy last week as well.
“Already the author of a risky recovery at the start of the game, he ended up cracking in front of Barcola and committing a stupid penalty,” Walfoot wrote of Faes (translated by Faes). Leicester City news) as they gave it a rating of 4/10. “Pity because when he recovered, he was worthy of an Alderweireld on a good day.”
Voetbal Primeur gave him a slightly more favorable 5/10, adding: “At first he had a pretty good game, but after just over half an hour of play he committed an incomprehensible penalty foul in the sixteenth. This earned France a penalty and an advantage, which the visitors did not relinquish. The mistakes Faes makes more often and are also a big stain on his game.”
Faes has already been credited with a mistake that led to Leicester’s shot at the Premier League this season and is becoming known as a talented defender with a bad habit of going off the mark.
Despite this, the Belgian remains linked to Newcastle Unitedwho are desperately looking for a new center back after theirs failed summer push by Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace.
