Van Bommel Names First Belgium Squad with Tielemans Retained as Captain
Mark van Bommel has named a 28-man Belgium squad for his first UEFA Nations League window as head coach, retaining Youri Tielemans as captain and setting out an attacking approach for four Group A1 fixtures against Italy, France and Türkiye.
Key takeaways
- Belgium open away to Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on Friday, September 25.
- Tielemans will continue as Red Devils captain under the new manager.
- Jari De Busser receives a first senior call-up after an impressive start to the domestic season in the Netherlands.
- Axel Witsel has ended his Belgium career after making 140 appearances.
- Romeo Lavia and Mika Godts are back in the international group, while Alexis Saelemaekers and Thomas Meunier are absent.
- Van Bommel intends to begin with a 4-3-3 rather than a system built around five defenders.
Van Bommel’s first Belgium selection
The new Belgium coach has mixed experienced internationals with a number of younger players from across Europe for the September and October schedule. The four goalkeepers selected are Jari De Busser, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders and Maarten Vandevoordt.
Timothy Castagne, Maxim De Cuyper, Zeno Debast, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Kyriani Sabbe, Joaquin Seys and Arthur Theate make up the defensive unit.
In midfield, Van Bommel has called up Kevin De Bruyne, Mandela Keita, Romeo Lavia, Nicolas Raskin, Tielemans and Hans Vanaken. The forward group contains Charles De Ketelaere, Malick Fofana, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Mika Godts, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Loïs Openda and Leandro Trossard.
De Busser is the only first-time call-up in the group. Lavia and Godts return to the setup, while Witsel’s international retirement closes a Belgium career that reached 140 caps. Saelemaekers and Meunier have not been included for this camp.
Midfield plans and a demanding four-match window
Van Bommel has confirmed that De Bruyne remains central to his plans, with the 49-year-old prepared to deploy him in several midfield roles. He said De Bruyne could operate as a No. 10, an No. 8 or even in the deeper No. 6 position, following a positive meeting in Naples to establish the player’s commitment to the new project.
The Belgium manager also held in-person talks with senior players in Naples and Istanbul as he assessed their willingness to continue with the national side. Lukaku is among those expected to be managed carefully, with Van Bommel planning to monitor the striker’s minutes across all four matches.
Training at Tubize will be used to introduce the coach’s preferred 4-3-3 shape and attacking principles before a compressed programme. Belgium travel to Italy on September 25, host France in Brussels three days later, and welcome Türkiye to Liège on October 2.
The window ends on October 5, when the Red Devils visit France at the Stade de France. Van Bommel expects the squad to take on his tactical instructions quickly before the Group A1 campaign begins.
