BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco has called up four new players for upcoming European qualifiers.
Tedesco, who was appointed in February with the mission to rebuild, included Standard goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart, Burnley defender Ameen Al-Dakhil, Cercle Brugge winger Olivier Deman and Genk midfielder Mike Trésor in his 24-man list.
Tedesco replaced Roberto Martinez, who stepped down after the Red Devils failed to progress to the knockout stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Tedesco’s short-term goal is to qualify Belgium for the 2024 European Championship. The Red Devils have started their qualifying campaign in Group F with a win against Sweden and take on Austria and Estonia next.
Bodart replaces the injured Koen Casteels while Trésor takes the place of Leandro Trossard, who is also out with a knock. Trésor was voted the best player of the Belgian league this week after helping his team to a second-placed finish behind Royal Antwerp.
___
Belgium:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Matz Sels (Strasbourg) Thomas Kaminski (Blackburn), Arnaud Bodart (Standard Liege),
Defenders: Ameen Al-Dakhil (Burnley), Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa), Wout Faes (Leicester), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht).
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Atletico), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Olivier Deman (Cercle Brugge), Orel Mangala (Nottingham Forest), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge)
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahçe), Jeremy Doku (Rennes), Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Lois Openda (Lens), Mike Trésor (Genk)
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
