Mark van Bommel launches the rebuilding of the Red Devils in Rome

This Friday evening, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome will host the first match of Mark van Bommel at the helm of the Red Devils, against Italy, a meeting intended to lay the foundations of a team that will have to develop over several years.

A first challenge in Rome

The match is part of the Nations League, which serves as a laboratory for the new Belgian football staff. Like Italy and France, Belgium is also starting a new cycle with a coach and fresh faces. Rome, or Rom for the Italians, thus becomes the stage for this first test. The city, where Julius Caesar met his end, symbolizes the transfer of power between generations.

The general public still remembers the July World Cup quarter‑final, and many supporters still mention Rudi Garcia, whose tenure was considered too short. Van Bommel’s start therefore comes on a steep slope that could quickly affect the confidence supporters have in his project.

Kevin De Bruyne, thirty‑five, and Romelu Lukaku, thirty‑three, are the last survivors of the 2014 Brazil generation. Axel Witsel has taken his leave, Thomas Meunier has been sidelined and Thibaut Courtois missed his turn, thus risking being permanently excluded from the game.

De Ketelaere does not see himself ahead of Romelu Lukaku at the Red Devils

The Belgian captain reminded this Tuesday in Tubize that “Now it’s up to the younger ones to take their responsibilities.” He emphasized that the time when we relied solely on Lukaku’s passes and De Bruyne’s goals is coming to an end.

A new generation ready to take over

The main objective of van Bommel’s contract is to lead Belgium to Euro 2028, which requires the youngsters to rise to the occasion. Among those under twenty‑five, there are goalkeepers such as Koen Lammens and Thomas Penders, defenders like Charles Debast, Michaël Ngoy, Timothy De Winter, Sébastien Seys and Alessandro Sabbe. In midfield, the prospects include Jeremy Lavia, Amadou Onana, Alexandre Raskin, Ibrahima Keita and Roméo De Cat, while the wingers Dodi Kuku Doku, Jérémy Godts, Ibrahima Fofana and Bryan Moreira provide speed and creativity. In attack, Charles De Ketelaere and Enzo Fernandez‑Pardo complete a rare offensive line in recent years.

The staff even plans to integrate other promising youngsters such as Arne Brughmans, Lenny Mbavu, Ilyas Bisiwu, Alexandre Fernandez, Aaron Nga Kana, Yohan Ojea and Noah Furo in the years to come. He believes that fifteen years will be enough to make Belgium the best team in its history.

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Christophe Franken, special correspondent in Rome, recalled that this first meeting must primarily allow the foundations of a team destined to evolve in the coming years to be laid. In the sports landscape, the Red Devils thus enter a new era where the youth will have to carry the torch.