The Belgian national football team, the Red Devils, has traveled to Izmir, Turkey, for a UEFA Nations League match on Thursday.
The match kicks off at 18:00 (heure belge), with a victory essential for Belgium’s hopes of reaching the tournament’s quarter-finals.
With six points from their matches in Group A1, Belgium sits third, trailing Italy on seven points and France on ten. Turkey is at the bottom of the group with zero points, making the upcoming fixture a must-win for the Belgians to keep their qualification hopes alive. The team also has a decisive match against Italy at home on Sunday at the stade Roi Baudouin (20h45).
Despite the high stakes, manager Mark van Bommel has named his starting lineup. The team will be without suspended midfielder Roméo Lavia and forward Romelu Lukaku, who was held back from the trip due to a minor hip complaint.
Lukaku and Lavia Absent for Belgium
Key striker Romelu Lukaku will miss the trip to Turkey after experiencing discomfort in his hip during a training session. He was held at the team’s base in Tubize to continue his recovery, with the hope that he will be fit for the upcoming match against Italy.
“Romelu s’est entraîné ce matin,” Van Bommel explained to reporters. “Il ressentait déjà quelque chose au niveau de la hanche hier. Difficile de dire exactement de quoi il s’agissait. Il ne se sentait pas à 100 %, nous avons donc décidé de le laisser se remettre à Tubize, dans l’espoir qu’il soit de la partie dimanche.”
The manager emphasized Lukaku’s continued importance to the squad, whether on the field or on the bench. “Romelu est toujours important pour nous, qu’il soit titulaire ou remplaçant. Quand il est sur le banc, l’adversaire le prend en compte s’il entre en jeu. Et au sein du groupe, il est également très précieux,” Van Bommel said.
Midfielder Roméo Lavia serves a suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards. His absence adds to the selection challenges for Van Bommel as Belgium looks to secure a result on the road.
Our XI facing Türkiye. ⚔️ #SelectedByPwC pic.twitter.com/FimO9Aqp5y
Van Bommel’s Selection Headache
The manager faces a selection dilemma on the wings, where he has several players at his disposal. “Il y a pas mal de joueurs qui peuvent jouer à ce poste. (rires) Ils jouent tous, marquent des buts et font des passes décisives,” Van Bommel said.
“C’est un vrai casse-tête de choisir les bons joueurs. D’un autre côté, si ça ne marche pas, on peut tout de suite faire entrer un autre type de joueur. Ce n’est pas agréable pour l’adversaire, et pour nous, c’est l’occasion de leur mettre encore plus de pression.”
This depth in the wide positions provides tactical flexibility. Should one player be ineffective, Van Bommel can introduce a different type of player to change the game’s dynamics, a strategy that keeps opponents guessing and applies constant pressure.
Belgium’s Path Forward
The team must reach one of the top two places in the group to reach the quarter-finals.
Avoiding a defeat will affect more than just the Nations League standings. En évitant la défaite, les Belges seront assurés de terminer au minimum troisièmes de leur groupe et d’intégrer le premier chapeau lors du tirage au sort prévu le 6 décembre. This seeding for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw is a long-term objective for the national team.
The Red Devils’ performance in this Nations League campaign has been mixed under new manager Van Bommel. The Dutchman’s first international window brought two victories—against Italy (0-2) and the Turkey (3-1)—and two defeats to France (0-1 and 4-1). This inconsistent form makes every remaining fixture critical.
Turkey Hosts Belgium in Izmir with High Stakes
The match between Turkey and Belgium will be held at the Gürsel-Aksel Stadium in Izmir. Swiss referee Sandro Schärer will officiate the game.
The stakes for Belgium are clear: a victory is necessary to maintain hopes of finishing in the top two of the group. With France playing Italy on the same day, the results of both matches will significantly reshape the final group standings before Belgium’s final match at home on Sunday.
For Turkey, the match represents an opportunity to earn their first points of the campaign.
What’s Next for Belgium
Regardless of the result in Turkey, Belgium’s focus will immediately shift to the match against Italy on Sunday at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. This fixture will likely determine the final standings of Group A1 and could confirm whether Belgium advances to the Nations League quarter-finals.
The team’s performance in these final two matches will also set the tone for their upcoming Euro 2028 qualifying campaign. With a strong showing, the Red Devils can build confidence and secure a favorable position in the December draw.
Worth a look
