The Belgium national football team faces Turkey on Friday evening at the stadium in Liège, with head coach Mark van Bommel expected to make tactical alterations to his starting lineup following recent outings against France and Italy. Squad rotation remains a primary focus for the technical staff despite sufficient recovery days between fixtures, with scrutiny centering specifically on the central striker position.
The End of an Era for Lukaku
For years, Romelu Lukaku anchored the forward line as the undisputed focal point and all-time top scorer for the Red Devils. However, persistent injury struggles during the previous club season at Napoli limited his playing time to a handful of minutes before he regained partial fitness ahead of the World Cup.
Experimenting After the Star’s Absence
During Lukaku’s absence, former head coach Rudi Garcia evaluated several alternatives, including Loïs Openda, Romeo Vermant, and Lucas Stassin. After those players fell short of selection for the tournament squad, Garcia deployed Charles De Ketelaere as the central forward. Although the Club Brugge youth product is not a natural center-forward, his work rate and technical combination play suited the role, culminating in a goal against eventual tournament winners Spain.
Finishing Woes Prompt Criticism
Under current coach Mark van Bommel, De Ketelaere has maintained that intensive pressing role, but finishing chances has proven difficult. The Atalanta BC attacker missed scoring opportunities in recent matches against France and Italy. Analyst Fred Waseige told SudPresse that starting De Ketelaere against Turkey would be incomprehensible, arguing that while the forward’s work ethic is commendable, Friday’s tactical setup demands a different player profile.
Weighing Fatigue Against Tactical Needs
Additional context from VoetbalNieuws.be highlights that De Ketelaere has logged heavy minutes recently, adding physical fatigue into the coaching staff’s calculations ahead of Monday’s return fixture away to France. While Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Loïs Openda offer distinct speed, a low defensive block from Turkey is anticipated in Liège, which would reduce the effectiveness of pure pace.
Lukaku’s Expected Return to the XI
Consequently, reports indicate that Lukaku is the leading candidate to reclaim the starting center-forward role. Now back with Fenerbahçe, the veteran striker is reportedly highly motivated. The expected slower match tempo and increased physical duels align well with his experienced profile.
Friday’s fixture kicks off in Liège before Belgium travels to face France on Monday.
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