In Liège, Belgium beat Turkey 1:0, and Kevin De Bruyne's goal in the 10th minute was not merely the result of the match, but a signal of how quickly the balance of power is shifting in Group A1 of the Nations League.
After three rounds, Belgium have six points, France seven, Italy four. Turkey are still without a win. The victory over a team that had conceded four goals in its previous matches showed that the "Red Devils" have learned to make the most of their chances, rather than relying solely on individual skill.
Tactically, the Belgians under Mark van Bommel banked on a high defensive line and quick counterattacks down the flanks. De Bruyne, restored to the starting lineup, did not merely score — he orchestrated the entire game in the centre, forcing the Turks to constantly reshuffle. Psychologically, this is an important moment: a team that recently lost to France showed it can dominate even without Romelu Lukaku in the starting eleven.
For Turkey, the defeat was a continuation of a run of failures. The team is clearly suffering from a lack of stability in defence and cannot find a balance between its attacking ambitions and its reliability at the back. The economic context also plays a role: Turkish clubs are actively investing in foreign players, but the national team is not yet reaping the dividends.
Let us compare it to everyday life: it is as if a company that invested in new technology suddenly discovered that its employees do not know how to use it. Belgium, by contrast, resembles a firm that, after restructuring, has begun to use its available resources efficiently.
What does this mean for the future? Belgium's victory heightens the intrigue in a group where every point can decide who advances to the play-offs and who avoids the relegation play-offs. For the Belgians, it is a chance to regain confidence ahead of the World Cup qualifiers; for the rest, it is a warning that in the Nations League there are no small details.
