The coach of Belgium, the Spaniard Roberto Martinez, announced on Monday the composition of his squad of 26 players called to play Euro 2020 (June 11-July 11), which includes Axel Witsel but not Marouane Fellaini.
Operated for a ruptured Achilles tendon in January, Witsel resumed racing a few days ago but is not yet certain of being fit in time for the European Championship.
However, Martinez wished to include it in his selection by justifying himself: “With a selection enlarged to 26 players (instead of 23, editor's note), I can take this risk.
He's a unique player ”.
Fellaini, who has not played with the Red Devils since the 2018 World Cup and his departure for the Chinese championship, will not come out of his international retirement.
A moment expected to compensate for a possible package from Witsel, it is not part of a selection that does not include any surprises.
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Euro 2020 Calendar
Its leaders will be Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard, although the latter is chasing form after two difficult seasons at Real Madrid.
Note the presence of the young Rennes resident Jéremy Doku.
This list, completed by eleven reservists, must be officially submitted to UEFA by 1 June at the latest.
In the group stage of the Euro, Belgium (group B) will be opposed successively to Russia (June 12), Denmark (June 17) and Finland (June 21).
The selection of Belgium (26 players):
Goalkeepers (3):
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid / ESP), Simon Mignolet (FC Bruges), Matz Sels (Strasbourg / FRA)
Defenders (5):
Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham / ENG), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin / GER), Jason Denayer (Lyon / FRA), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica / POR), Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe / JPN)
Midfielders and full-backs (11):
Timothy Castagne (Leicester / ENG), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid / ESP), Nacer Chadli (Istanbul Basaksehir / TUR), Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton / ENG), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City / ENG), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund / GER), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund / GER), Dennis Praet (Leicester / ENG), Youri Tielemans (Leicester / ENG), Hans Vanaken (FC Bruges), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund / GER)
Forwards (7):
Michy Batshuayi (Crystal Palace / ENG), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace / ENG), Jérémy Doku (Rennes / FRA), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid / ESP), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan / ITA), Dries Mertens (Naples / ITA), Leandro Trossard (Brighton / ENG)
Reservists (11):
Thomas Kaminski (Blackburn / ENG), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan / ITA), Albert Sambi Lokonga (Anderlecht), Bryan Heynen (RC Genk), Thomas Foket (Reims / FRA), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad / ESP), Brandon Mechele (FC Bruges), Jordan Lukaku (Antwerp), Zinho Vanheusden (Standard de Liège), Yari Verschaeren (Anderlecht), Charles De Ketelaere (FC Bruges).
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Euro 2020 Calendar
