Van Bommel eyes De Bruyne‑Vanaken‑Tielemans trio, Lukaku benched
In the Sclessin stadium, the Red Devils are set to face Turkey at 20:45, and Mark van Bommel has unveiled an unexpected lineup: the midfield will be provided by Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken and Youri Tielemans, while Romelu Lukaku will have to wait his turn on the bench.
The reinvented midfield
Van Bommel chose not to keep Nicolas Raskin, initially expected, and placed him on the bench. The De Bruyne‑Vanaken‑Tielemans trio, already tested against Iran and Senegal, forms the creative heart of Belgium. This decision shows the coach's desire to strengthen technique and creativity in the centre of the pitch.
Changes in attack
In attack, Moreira, suspended, yields his place to Lukebakio on the right wing. The return of Christian de Cuyper on the left, in place of Seys, is the only other defensive adjustment. Romelu Lukaku, playing for Fenerbahçe, remains on the bench, once again, despite expectations.
A stable defence
The defensive line remains largely unchanged: Thibaut Lammens will keep the goal, surrounded by Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy and de Cuyper. Players such as Godts and Amadou De Ketelaere retain their starting spots, confirming their place in the starting eleven.
The manager, described as “a Dutch coach who maintains continuity”, relies on the same defence that conceded two goals against Italy, but with a more attacking approach thanks to de Cuyper’s presence on the left.
The match will be refereed by Rohit Saggi, from Norway, adding an international dimension to the fixture.
Romain Van der Pluym and Christophe Franken, mentioned in pre‑match discussions, wonder whether De Bruyne and Lukaku will swap their statuses on the pitch. The question remains open as the Belgian team seeks to impose its game.
The midfield trio, described as “experienced”, must allow the Red Devils to apply pressure and create chances, notably thanks to the expected link-up between De Bruyne and Vanaken. Tielemans’s performance will also be scrutinised for his role as a playmaker.
Finally, the word “LIVE” appears in official communications, reminding supporters that kickoff is scheduled for 20:45, when fans will be able to follow the action live.