March 14 – Belgium’s manager Domenico Tedesco has extended his contract until the 2026 World Cup but his team will be without Kevin De Bruyne for the March friendlies.
Under Tedesco (pictured), Belgium breezed through the qualifiers unbeaten and defeated Euro 2024 host nation Germany in a friendly. The Belgian FA rewarded those results with a two-year contract extension, with Tedesco saying there was a relationship of ‘trust’ following what he called easy contract negotiations.
Tedesco succeeded Roberto Martinez after the 2022 World Cup and the former manager of Leipzig, Spartak Moscow and Schalke 04 introduced younger players to the squad.
At the European championship in Germany Belgium will face Slovakia, Romania and a playoff winner in Group E. At the last continental finals, Belgium crashed out in the last eight against eventual champions Italy.
At the end of March, Belgium head to England and Ireland for two warm-up friendlies. They will play Ireland in Dublin on March 23 and three days later the Belgians travel to Wembley to face England.
Tedesco omitted Kevin de Bruyne from his squad because of a groin injury. In January, the midfielder returned from a hamstring injury that he sustained on the opening day of the Premier League season.
“It’s our responsibility to say it’s better to protect him, to give him the time to have a good rehabilitation in City and then to have him ready for the Euros,” explained Tedesco.
“One year ago, he played for us in those two games against Sweden and Germany, but it is how it is. It’s not that he doesn’t want to come. He’s a special, special player that we need. We need him, especially for the Euros. It’s probably the wisest decision not to have him here and to be ready for the Euros, hopefully.”
Belgium squad:
Goalkeepers: Arnaud Bodart, Koen Casteels, Thomas Kaminski, Matz Sels
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Koni De Winter, Zeno Debast, Wout Faes, Thomas Meunier, Arthur Theate, Jan Vertonghen
Midfielders: Olivier Deman, Jeremy Doku, Dodi Lukebakio, Orel Mangala, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Arthur Vermeeren, Aster Vranckx
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko, Michy Batshuayi, Charles De Ketelaere, Romelu Lukaku, Loïs Openda, Leandro Trossard
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