Hans Vanaken
Club BruggeCM
Box-to-Box
Aug 24, 1992 (33)
Right
6'5"
170 lb
Starts Friday
Vanaken registered one interception in Friday's 2-1 defeat to Spain.
Analysis: Vanaken was handed the start after Youri Tielemans was a late scratch due to injury, with the midfielder playing until the 60th minute. His day would see minimal action, recording an interception, a block and 12 passes completed. He would only earn three starts in his six appearances this World Cup, but still made a mark in his 318 minutes of play, notching one goal and two assists.
Scores and assists against USA
Vanaken scored one goal and assisted once from one shot (one target) and one chance created in Monday's 4-1 victory against USA.
Analysis: Vanaken came in early since Amadou Onana injured his knee in the first half and contributed to two goals by taking advantage of blunders by the opponents. He slotted it home in the empty net from distance after Matt Freese turned the ball over and stripped a defender in the box near the end of the tilt, quickly feeding Romelu Lukaku ahead of the final goal. He had started in the previous two fixtures. He has notched two assists, five goals and eight key passes in the last four bouts.
Quiet during start
Vanaken had one tackle (zero won) in Wednesday's 3-2 victory against Senegal.
Analysis: Vanaken would start for Belgium on Wednesday, although he was not too much use, recording one tackle as Belgium found themselves down two goals when he exited in the 63rd minute. He has now started in two games straight for the team after bench roles in their opening two matches. That said, a change in the midfield could be on the horizon again, with Nicolas Raskin or Amadou Onana as other options.
Brillant outing in midfield
Vanaken assisted once to go with two shots (zero on goal) and seven chances created in Friday's 5-1 win versus New Zealand.
Analysis: Vanaken anchored Belgium's double pivot alongside Youri Tielemans, providing the stability that allowed the Red Devils to control long stretches of Friday's 5-1 win over New Zealand. He logged the full 90 minutes and played a key role in a dominant defensive display that limited New Zealand to just one shot in the first half. Vanaken also set up Leandro Trossard's second goal and created an outstanding seven chances in his first start of the tournament, making a strong case to remain a key piece in coach Rudi Garcia's midfield moving forward. Belgium's emphatic victory secured top spot in Group G and a place in the Round of 32.
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