The Belgium manager Marc Wilmots has warned the Premier League trio of Moussa Dembele, Kevin De Bruyne, and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen that if they don’t play for their club’s on a regular basis that they may not gain a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad in Brazil next summer.
Belgium, who enjoyed a superb qualification campaign, as the side were emphatic and ran out winners of the group, were outplayed in shock friendly defeats against Colombia and Japan respectively, as Belgium’s preparation’s took a turn for the worst, after some negative friendly results.
Belgium, who have a whole host of Premier League star’s, including Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, and Eden Hazard respectively , who have all enjoyed successful Premiership campaign’s during the season.
There is a possibility that nine out of the starting 11 players could all be playing at Premier League club’s come June, as the ever improving nation look to be undrdogs next summer.
De Bruyne, who has been in superb form for his national side as the Belgium midfielder has struggled to gain a place in Jose Mourinho’s side, and he has recently been linked with a move to the German Bundesliga, where he enjoyed a successful spell with Weder Breman last season.
‘We first have to settle the problem that players play for their club,’ Wilmots said.
Many of Belgium’s top players have been missing recently, with Vincent Kompany sidelined for several weeks for Manchester City, Maurone Fellani, out of form and still suffering from an injury at Manchester United, and Daniel Van Buyten usually on the bench for German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, so recent Atletico Madrid recruit Toby Alderweireld is not a regular for the Spanish club.
Then Premier League based players Moussa Dembele and Thomas Vermaelen are also warming the bench at both North London sides on a regular basis, Dembele has struggled to get into the Tottenham side following Spurs’ recent transfer dealings in the summer.
Wilmots stated to the national media….
‘December and January will be important even though I have little impact on it,’ he said.
In theory, Belgium could be better off with players who perform regularly at low-level clubs than stars who are warming the benches of big clubs.
‘We will be dependent on the choice of players, who have to play for their club to get match rhythm,’ Wilmots said. ‘Otherwise life would be too good to be true.’
The side have recently rose to number 5 in the FIFA World rankings during the qualification stage.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
