Following on from the previous friendly match against Ivory Coast, national coach Roberto Martinez will kick off an experimental team in Leuven on Wednesday evening (8:45 PM). “Switzerland will be a continuation of what we did against Ivory Coast, so a combination of experienced and young players,” said the national coach during a virtual press moment on Tuesday.
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Now that Thomas Vermaelen is not allowed to travel to Belgium, national coach Roberto Martinez has to work on his team for the exhibition game against Switzerland. Perhaps Jan Vertonghen will replace his friend Vermaelen. Vertonghen announced that he had no objection to the many matches and is still aiming at sharpening his international record (now 120).
Target: Mignolet
Defense: Boyata, Mechele, Vertonghen
Midfield: Praet, Dendoncker, Vanaken, Chadli
Aanval: Doku, Batshuayi, Lukebakio
In contrast to last month’s friendly match, when with Zinho Vanheusden, Alexis Saelemaekers, Sebastiaan Bornauw, goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge and Joris Kayembe five players were allowed to take their first cap with the national team, a maximum of two debutants will play against Switzerland . Especially Charles De Ketelaere from Bruges seems close to a chance, Anderlecht defender Hannes Delcroix was brought to the team in extremis to make up for Vermaelen’s unexpected absence. In total, nineteen players made their debut with the Red Devils under Martinez. This year the counter is already at eight.
“Some of those young players were already there against Ivory Coast, now there are two more debutants with De Ketelaere and Delcroix. The objective is twofold: in the first place we introduce these young players into the group. In the long term we want to gather a lot of information to make a final selection for the European Championship. ”
“An important test”
Martinez and the Red Devils do not have the best memories of Switzerland. The last mutual game was lost 5-2 in Lucerne in November 2018, which meant that Switzerland could go to the Final Four and not the Belgians. “It is an important test for both countries, because we are in a similar situation, with the Nations League matches to follow. Switzerland wants the ball, dares to take risks and it is up to us to deal with that. Their coach (Vladimir Petkovic, ed.) Is doing a fantastic job: he’s been there for almost six years, so they play like a club rather than a national team. ”
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