Stijn Stijnen defends Maarten Vandevoordt after Belgium’s 4-1 loss to France

Maarten Vandevoordt’s international debut for the Belgium national team ended in a 4-1 loss against France on Monday evening, a result that drew harsh criticism from the French press. Despite the scoreline, former Belgium goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen has defended the 24-year-old’s performance, labeling the negative reception from international outlets as unwarranted.

Vandevoordt’s performance under scrutiny

The match saw Belgium hold a lead until the 77th minute, at which point the French attack dismantled the visiting defense. Vandevoordt, currently playing for RB Leipzig, was tasked with starting in goal during this international break. Following the final whistle, the goalkeeper expressed visible disappointment with the outcome. According to reports from VoetbalNieuws.be, the French publication L’Equipe assigned Vandevoordt a rating of three out of ten for his efforts.

Stijnen challenges the assessment

Stijnen characterized the score as “ridiculous” and argued that it failed to reflect the reality of the match. “That figure does not correspond at all with what Maarten has shown,” Stijnen stated. He specifically cited a save against a shot from Rayan Cherki as evidence of the goalkeeper’s competence, adding that Vandevoordt kept the team in the match for a significant duration and bore no personal fault for the collapse.

Goalkeeper selection hierarchy

The decision to start Vandevoordt over other options in the squad, such as Senne Lammens or Mike Penders, was a point of interest during the break. Stijnen suggested that Vandevoordt’s status as a regular starter at the club level for RB Leipzig played a decisive role in the coaching staff’s selection process.

Regarding Penders, who is currently associated with Chelsea, Stijnen noted that the young goalkeeper’s development remains on track despite his current lack of playing time. “Maarten was preferred over Penders because he is a regular starter at Leipzig,” Stijnen explained. “For Mike, it will be important to get more playing time. He has the profile to become the first goalkeeper for Chelsea and the Red Devils, and I am sure they have a plan for him in London.”

Upcoming schedule

The international break has concluded, and players are now returning to their respective club environments. Vandevoordt is expected to resume his duties with RB Leipzig as the Bundesliga season continues, while the Belgian national team will look to reset before their next scheduled fixtures.