Nations League
Van Bommel ignores final label, Belgium must now beat Azzurri
Mark van Bommel is not shocked by Italy's surprising victory over France. He warned that Belgium now has to beat the Azzurri to progress in the Nations League, while he refuses to call the upcoming match a final.
Italian shock in Nations League
Italy surprised everyone by beating France 3‑1 on Thursday in Group A of the Nations League. The result puts the Red Devils in a must‑win situation against the Azzurri on Sunday evening, assuming France settles its match with Turkey. “It’s incredibly impressive that they were able to turn it around against France,” Van Bommel said, and added that his own team at home also deserved more.
Van Bommel warns: Italy duel is not a final in Nations League
Lukaku’s role and Van Bommel’s secrecy
Romelu Lukaku missed Thursday’s clash with Turkey, but the Red Devils’ top scorer remains available for the match against Italy. Van Bommel said he expects the striker can play ninety minutes and confirmed that everyone, including Lukaku, is one hundred percent fit. He refused to reveal whether Lukaku will start in the lineup, although he indicated that he already knows what the decision is. Moreover, he noted that many Italians are present and that Lukaku can fulfil a role as a game‑changer, as he demonstrated at the World Cup.