Mark van Bommel denies three Red Devils a spot against Italy
In the twilight of the Stadio Olimpico, Belgian manager Mark van Bommel unveils a trimmed match sheet: three of the Red Devils will not travel to the Italian capital this Friday evening.
Confirmed absences
Defender Kyriani Sabbe, playing for Club Brugge, and full‑back Koni De Winter, signed by AC Milan, are excluded from the official list published by UEFA. Striker Malick Fofana, who joined Sunderland this summer, will also not be among the twenty‑three eligible players.
Two other absences are already known: goalkeeper Mike Penders, under contract with Chelsea, and winger Leandro Trossard, of Beşiktaş, remain in Belgium due to minor injuries.
The selected squad
Van Bommel presented an initial list of twenty‑eight names, but only twenty‑three spots are available on the bench. The selected goalkeepers are Senne Lammens, Maarten Vandevoordt and Jari De Busser. In defence, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Nathan Ngoy and Timothy Castagne form the core.
Red Devils keep Fofana, Sabbe and De Winter out of Nations League opener
The midfield includes Roméo Lavia, Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Mandela Keita, Joaquin Seys, Diego Moreira, Hans Vanaken and Nicolas Raskin. Up front, Romelu Lukaku, Mika Godts, Loïs Openda, Dodi Lukébakio, Charles De Ketelaere and Matias Fernandez‑Pardo are available.
The Nations League opener will see Belgium face Italy, with a schedule that then includes France at home, Turkey at home on 2 October, followed by a return to France on 5 October.
On the Italian side, several players are also absent: Nicolo Zaniolo (Udinese), Matteo Pessina (Monza), Daniele Ghilardi (AS Roma), Eddy Kouadio (Monza), Matteo Ruggeri (Aston Villa), Samuele Ricci (Como) and Nicolo Fagioli (Fiorentina). Alessandro Bastoni of Inter is suspended.
Vincenzo Ciuro and Silvio Proto comment on the Red Devils in Italy
The three Red Devils thus left out will take seats in the Stadio Olimpico stands, while their teammates are set to defend the Belgian colours before an Italian audience.