Belgium’s midfield debate intensifies as Vanaken remains on bench

On Monday evening Belgian time, a wave of public demand for Hans Vanaken to start for the Belgium national team surged after the midfielder was omitted from the starting eleven in a 1‑1 draw with Austria and a 0‑3 defeat to Estonia, matches that followed Belgium’s exit from the World Cup in Qatar. Hein Vanhaezebrouck was the first Belgian coach to publicly back Vanaken, declaring on television in 2013 that the player “plays too fast for the Red Devils” and that the ball must be retained for two to three touches before passing. Since that interview, Vanhaezebrouck has gathered additional supporters among the national team coaches. Domenico Tedesco, the most recent head coach to exclude Vanaken, placed him on the bench for the full 90 minutes in the 1‑1 stalemate with Austria. Tedesco repeated the decision in the subsequent 0‑3 loss to Estonia, keeping Vanaken off the pitch for the entire match. Rudi Garcia, the current manager, has consistently selected Vanaken for his preferred three‑man midfield, a choice supported by sports director Vincent Mannaert. Vanaken’s last start came in November 2025, delayed by a hip injury and tactical selections against Croatia, Tunisia and Egypt that saw him begin on the bench.

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Garcia’s tactical alternatives have included swapping Onana for Tielemans to sit behind Vanaken and De Bruyne, or reshuffling the entire triangle to feature Raskin, Vanaken and De Bruyne. Both configurations were each employed three times over the past eighteen months, according to match data. The Tielemans‑Vanaken‑De Bruyne trio only featured at the kickoff against Liechtenstein, a match that did not produce a win for Belgium. Since Roberto Martínez’s tenure, which included Euro 2021, Belgium has lacked a defined midfield type, whereas under Martínez Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne regularly formed the core of a 3‑4‑3 system. During Tedesco’s spell, Orel Mangala of Lyon was frequently deployed to provide balance in the middle of the park. Garcia later looked to Scotland for a similar solution, eyeing Nicolas Raskin as a potential midfield anchor. Former internationals Marc Degryse and Toby Alderweireld have voiced opinions that a different captain or midfield trio should be considered for the Red Devils. In club news, Anderlecht no longer requires Vanaken, while Nathan Ngoy emerged as the unexpected replacement for Zeno Debast for the World Cup starting lineup.