3 Devils with 30 caps and more, 8 Hopes: Belgium is getting its youthful treatment

Maarten Vandevoordt, Matte Smets, Cyril Ngonge and Malick Fofana will discover, during this gathering, the international setting – Smets had already trained with the Devils once. In September, Julien Duranville was the new kid. And in November, whose turn will it be?

Leandro Trossard looks back on his September absence

Domenico Tedesco has made no secret of his intention to use the Nations League as a laboratory, to see new players (and their behavior in training), to carry out tests (a change of system on the program? ) and to prepare for the future of a selection whose average age for this gathering (24.8 years) has not been so low for a while.

In 2013, the average age of the selection was 25 years old

On the set of La Tribune, Monday evening, Marc Wilmots referred, in his style, to this rejuvenation, which he experienced as a coach. “Against the Netherlands, we went there with our young people, without asking any questions. You have no choice, you go.” On August 15, 2012, for the third match of his mandate, Wilmots had indeed called up a group whose average age was 25.8 years old and the starting team was 25.

Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were 21 or younger and they were the beginnings of the golden generation. In 2013, the average age was 25 years old, within the range of the current selection. The notable difference, apart from talent, let’s dare say the word, is the difference in experience, in terms of caps, already. Hazard, Lukaku and Witsel had between 15 and 35 caps on the clock; De Bruyne and Courtois were approaching ten.

Towards a change of system?

This is not yet quite the same observation for this selection, whose 30 caps and more can be counted on the fingers of one hand. There are three of them: Youri Tielemans (73 caps), Timothy Castagne (50) and Leandro Trossard (37).

There were 8 Hopefuls at Euro 2023 in the Devils selection

This reminder of history, and this comparison, allows us to situate the unusual aspect of Tedesco’s attempt, which will rely on a few elders to get the messages across. Leandro Trossard is not the most talkative of the Devils. But since he is the oldest field player (29 years old), he will have to do his part to advise the younger players: “If I had to give them one piece of advice, it would be to not let stress overwhelm them.”explained the Gunner this Tuesday.

Maxim De Cuyper passed this milestone for the first time with the Devils. It was recently, last June, for the last preparation matches for the Euro against Montenegro then Luxembourg. The Club Bruges player should honor his fourth milestone this Thursday, in Rome, against Italy.

He is still a young Devil, but already a possible relay for the new ones, in group life in Tubize. “This happens quite naturally.he slips. I know some of them, like Cyril (Speaking)with whom I played in Bruges, or Maarten (Vandevoordt) with whom I participated in the Euro Espoirs (in 2023).”

Zeno Debast, Charles De Ketelaere, Loïs Openda, Aster Vranckx, Arne Engels and Koni De Winter also took part in the tournament, which makes life easier for this new generation, some of whom will have to emerge in the months to come. “There will be a chance to take.”hopes De Cuyper.

For Malick Fofana (19 years old) and Matte Smets (20), the youngest members of the selection, the competition will be dense at their position, in central defense and on the wing; the first idea will be to find a place in the shade, while waiting for a chance. Tedesco explained, Friday during his press conference, what he appreciated about Smets, “a talented defender”.

Regarding Fofana, whose absence had been pointed out by some during the September rally, he said: “He is developing very well in Lyon, he is decisive (3 goals and 2 assists in 9 matches)but the choice to select him had been made before his double against Glasgow Rangers (in the Europa League).”

Summoning the youth can also be a mitigating circumstance for Tedesco in the event of defeat

By summoning the youth to the meeting, even if this youth plays little (Vandevoordt did not play a minute in Leipzig and a priori becomes number 2 for this gathering due to the Sels withdrawal; Ngonge did not play 100 minutes with Naples at the start of the season), Tedesco confirmed his desire to rejuvenate his staff, while waiting for the return of the old ones… and to protect himself from criticism, in the process.

Who can blame this young team if they take the tide in Italy or against France? This is obviously not the idea since it is necessary to prepare the rest of the golden generation. But it is a potential extenuating circumstance that can help during debriefing.

However, it should be noted that France and Italy are not richer in experience than the Red Devils (see infographics elsewhere). This is also the advantage of youth: it is not always burdened with questions. So ride youth!