TOULOUSE: Belgium coach Marc Wilmots is looking for some "grit and aggression" from his players.
After a demoralizing loss to Italy exposed defensive frailties and wayward finishing, the Belgians face Ireland in their second European Championship match on Saturday and even Romelu Lukaku's place up front seems to be in jeopardy.
Lukaku had a disappointing showing in the 2-0 loss to Italy on Monday, missing a great chance to equalize in the second half.
"I will have to think about that," Wilmots said of Lukaku's chances of starting against Ireland at the Stade de Bordeaux. "The Italy game hasn't robbed him of his confidence. But I have different types of strikers and I will see who fits what match."
Divock Origi is one of those options, and the coach brought the 21-year-old forward on for Lukaku in the 73rd minute of Monday's match. Wilmots can also turn to Origi's Liverpool teammate, Christian Benteke.
But although the coach has options up front, he also has injury concerns going into Saturday's match. Midfielders Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne both missed training sessions after the Italy match. Hazard has some groin and knee issues, while De Bruyne has a thigh problem.
"They should both be coming back on Thursday, but I will only be sure when I have spoken with medical staff," Wilmots said. "So let me be cautious."
More worrying for the coach is the team's leaky back line as Belgium tries to lift itself from the bottom of Group E and salvage its chances of advancing. Time after time, the Italian players easily ran past Belgium defenders in the first match.
"What I missed was grit and aggression," Wilmots said. "If we think that everything will come by itself, we are heading the wrong way."
The Belgians could take some lessons from Ireland on that front after the team's performance against Sweden. The Irish dominated their opponents for most of the match, leading 1-0 before Ciaran Clark directed a ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic past his goalkeeper for an own-goal.
Ireland's display, even though it ended in a 1-1 draw, has given the team a boost.
"We have to go and compete," Ireland coach Martin O'Neill said. "If that game against Sweden doesn't lift us, nothing will."
Jon Walters, whose Achilles injury flared up against Sweden, is a doubt for Saturday's match against the second-ranked Belgians.
"Belgium are very dangerous," O'Neill said. "It will be a tough night for us but it will also be a tough night for them."