Liverpool striker Divock Origi featured for Belgium against Italy at Euro 2016 on Monday.
Former Manchester United and Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand praised Liverpool striker Divock Origi on BBC One (09:59pm, June 13) following the Euro 2016 Group E match between Belgium and Italy on Monday evening.
Origi featured for Belgium in their opening game of the European Championship at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon.
The 21-year-old did not start the match, but he came on as a substitute for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku on 73 minutes.
Former England international centre-back Ferdinand was impressed with the performance of Origi.
“He has got energy, he moves,” said the former West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers defender about Origi on BBC One following the match (09:59pm, June 13).
“As soon as he came on, you saw a little bit more industriousness in the way he played, and it was more than what we saw of Lukaku in the whole game, the little cameo that he showed.”
Origi failed to prevent Belgium from losing the Euro 2016 match 2-0 to Italy, but he did show some encouraging signs.
The Liverpool striker was a greater threat to the Italy defence during the 17 minutes he was on the pitch than Lukaku was over 73 minutes.
The youngster attacked the ball well in the air and got into good positions, but his finishing let him down.
Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle were the scorers for Italy in their 2-0 victory over Belgium in the Group E encounter.
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