Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco announced on Friday that he has called up four new players for the upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and France, while leaving out key players Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.
The new players are Malick Fofana, Cyril Ngonge, Matte Smets, and Maarten Vandevoordt. Tedesco mentioned that the Nations League is a good opportunity to try out new players.
“We will not do it during the important World Cup qualification,” he said.
Belgium will face Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome next week before hosting France. Italy leads the group with six points, while Belgium and France are tied with three points each. Israel is at the bottom, having lost its first two matches.
Tedesco said he spoke with the injured De Bruyne on the phone and that the Manchester City midfielder “is very motivated” to keep playing for the national team and to participate in the next World Cup. De Bruyne showed his frustration last month during Belgium’s 2-0 loss to France in Lyon, raising concerns about his commitment to the team.
“He asked us to be out for this camp and also before the November camp to take care of his body,” Tedesco said. “Of course we understand.”
Along with Lukaku, De Bruyne is one of the last remaining players from the previous generation of Belgian stars, but his future is uncertain, especially with injuries affecting his performance in recent seasons at City. He sustained his latest muscle injury last month during a Champions League match against Inter.
Tedesco noted that Lukaku also requested to be excused because he doesn’t feel at his best after his late transfer to Napoli.
“So he asked us also for this camp at least to work individually in Napoli,” he said. “Similar situations.”
