A new national coach and certainly not the names of Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld and Simon Mignolet on his selection list for the next two international matches. After six years of Roberto Martinez, it is really time to look forward to who will be called up (and who will not) for the national team on Friday.
On Friday, Domenico Tedesco will announce his first selection for the international matches against Sweden and Germany.
After Eden Hazard and Toby Alderweireld, we officially know since today that Simon Mignolet should no longer be sent a convocation letter.
The goalkeeper, who was always called up (when he was fit), but didn’t play much in the shadow of Thibaut Courtois – 35 times in total – made his debut against Austria in 2011 and played in two European Championships and three World Cups.
“I understand Mignolet’s choice,” Franky Van der Elst is not surprised to hear the news in De Tribune. “Mignolet turned 35 last week and was a reserve goalkeeper. Now he can concentrate on Club Brugge.”
Toby Alderweireld has taken flight.
Simon Mignolet this week, Toby Alderweireld a week earlier. It is perhaps not a coincidence that two players announced their retirement in the run-up to Domenico Tedesco’s first selection.
After the World Cup, Alderweireld said, however, that he was still available for the national team.
“The new national coach has spoken with Alderweireld. It must be that the Antwerp player has been told that he is no longer sure of his place,” says Stef Wijnants in De Tribune.
“Alderweireld has taken flight. Someone with his status will no longer want to sit on the bench.”
“With Mignolet, the farewell is less surprising. I don’t think the new national coach has personally spoken to Mignolet.”
Vertonghen, Witsel, Mertens…
If there are still established values from recent years with the Red Devils who feel that they will be passed over on Friday or who think they will have to be satisfied with a substitute role from now on, then they still have a few days to keep the honor to themselves.
Franky Van der Elst would not be surprised that the example of Mignolet and Alderweireld will be followed before Friday.
“Will Jan Vertonghen continue?” Van der Elst wonders.
“Alderweireld has not played a bad World Cup and his season has been better than Jan Vertonghen’s, for example,” adds Stef Wijnants.
“Tedesco spoke with Axel Witsel, I know that. In the period of the Madrid derby, the national coach flew to Madrid and spoke with Witsel and Courtois.”
A lot will also depend on the system Tedesco wants to play with.
“Will Witsel still be called up? And what about Dries Mertens? In Genk they are in any case very nervous. If Mike Trésor or Bryan Heynen (who play in the same position as Mertens and Witsel respectively) are not called up now, when will they be? ?”
And the two mainstays of Genk are not the only possible newcomers. “Romeo Lavia is an option. Apparently he is doing well at Southampton,” says Van der Elst.
“A lot will also depend on the system Tedesco wants to play with. For example, if you want to play with four defenders, you need a left back.”
Is Domenico Tedesco a revolutionary or an evolutionist? We will know the answer on Friday.
