Faced with the uncertainties preceding a winter friendly match against Finland, the 23-year-old striker who is impressing the Netherlands in a season at 14 goals and 24 assists is recalled at the last minute. He will have the pleasure of going up to the game half an hour. We talk to you about a time when the Devils were unable to beat a team from Finland (1-1). Mertens will never leave the selection again. Until his international retirement, after the 2022 World Cup, when Tedesco will no longer appeal to him.
2. 2012: Tornado against the Netherlands
So in full swing at the PSV, Dries Mertens oscillates between a status of holder and replacement in selection. A match that has a friendly only the name, against the Netherlands, gives it another dimension among the Devils, in August 2012. While the Belgians are led 1-2 at the King Baudouin stadium, the small format is launched by Wilmots in place of Chadli shortly after the hour of play.
And the number 14 changes the match with, first, a goal full of opportunism where he chips a ball and goes to the goal. Then two perfect assists for Lukaku and Vertonghen. He can return to Eindhoven his head high.
3. 2014: He launched the Brazilian World Cup
The comeback in the Devils World Cup has hopes for an entire country. But the first match against Algeria is much more complicated than expected. Led 1-0, the Wilmots team needs changes to reverse the trend.
In Brazil, Mertens goes up to the game at halftime and strengthens his status as “supersub” by marking 2-1 to the 80th. He wins his holder’s place for the following three games. Returning replacement against Argentina, his climb does not invert the course of things, this time. Four years later, in Russia, he also scored there in the first match, against Panama.
4. 2021: a jewel in Louvain against England
One of the most beautiful feet of Mertens in the national jersey remains this free kick registered against England in the Louvanist stadium of his hometown, as a bonus. In this month of November 2021, during Covid, the Devils must beat England and then Denmark to win their group and participate in the Final Four.
Already involved in the 1-0, with a “pre-assist” for Lukaku on the goal of Tielemans, Mertens achieves one of his “specials”. Slightly shifted on the left side of the English rectangle, he deposits a wonder of free kick in the skylight of a pickford which can only touch this perfect balloon. The Devils won 2-0 and will finish well at the top of the group. But, back from injury, “Ciro” will not participate in this Final Four. Too bad, the devils might not have lost against the Blues with him.
5. 2022: Suitable doublely painful farewells
The last appearance of Mertens for the Devils, at the Qatari World Cup, is painful. A draw against Croatia (0-0) to the air of defeat which sees the Belgian road stopped from the hens. Even more painful than Martinez aligns him in point like “False new”. A plan that does not work and that Spanish changes from half time by replacing the Louvanist by Lukaku. Sad final.
