Belgium’s bid for Euro 2024 will be led by players Kevin De Bruyne and Alex Witsel, who returned after announcing their retirement from the national team, the list of 25 players of which was announced this Friday.
“I have the best feelings for Axel,” the selector explained regarding the call-up of Witsel, who announced his retirement from the team in May 2023 and did not participate in the qualifying stage.
Selector Domenico Tedesco’s selection also includes 37-year-old centre-back Jan Vertonghen, a veteran player who, like Witsel, represented Benfica, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), who has been out for most of the season through injury, remained on the sidelines.
The big news on the list is debutant Mahim De Kuyper, the 23-year-old left-back who became a champion with Club Brugge.
Among the candidates is also 20-year-old central defender Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), who is considered a possible strengthening of Sporting.
Anderlecht’s Debust and Vertonghen and Club Brugge’s De Kuyper are the only three called up to play for Belgian teams.
Tedesco, who replaced the Portuguese coach, the Spaniard Roberto Martinez, as head of the Belgian national team, has not yet had a single defeat (eight wins and four draws) at the head of the Red Devils.
At Euro 2024, which takes place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, Belgium is in Group E along with Slovakia (June 17), Romania (22) and Ukraine (26).
List of 25 summoned players:
– Goalkeepers: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest, England), Koen Castells (Wolfsburgo, Ale) and Thomas Kaminski (Luton, England).
– Defenders: Wout Faes (Leicester, England), Timothy Castagne (Fulham, England), Arthur Theate (Rennes, France), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid, Spain) ), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor/Tours) and Maxime de Cuyper (Club Brugge).
– Midfielders: Aster Vranx (Wolfsburg, Ale), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, England), Orel Mangala (Lyon, France), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, England), Arthur Vermeeren (” Atlético Madrid, Spain) and Amadou Onana (Everton/Ing).
– Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Roma, Italy), Charles De Ketelare (Atalanta, Italy), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City, England), Lois Openda (Leipzig, Ale), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal “, England), Johan Bakayoko (“PSV Eindhoven”). /Hol), Dodi Lukebakio (Seville/Spain) and Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab/Ara).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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