Initially, Domenico Tedesco did not want to weaken the Espoirs for their double confrontation against the Czech Republic. But following the withdrawals from the A team, Gil Swerts is very helpless…
If there is one collaboration that is unclear, it is that between Gill Swerts and Domenico Tedesco. The porosity between the two selections is however very strong, perhaps even more than at the time of Roberto Martinez: Tedesco often calls on U21s to make up their numbers in training, and playing in Espoirs means that you have greater chances of being called up to the A team.
On several occasions to justify choices, and again this Friday to explain that Killian Sardella was not taken back, Tedesco assured that he preferred not to weaken the Hopes too much. This time, the explanation was logical given the double confrontation against the Czech Republic in the Euro 2025 play-offs.
But Sardella himself pointed out with a little bitterness that this did not prevent Domenico Tedesco from depriving the U21s of several executives. Malick Fofana, Matte Smets and even Maarten Vandevoordt are with the Red Devils, while the latter two should not get much playing time.
Should Tedesco weaken the Espoirs to this extent?
And now, following several last minute packages, Domenico Tedesco finally recalls Killian Sardella, Arthur Vermeeren and Samuel Mbangula. For how many minutes combined in the two upcoming Nations League matches? We cannot predict the coach’s intentions, but for example, Fofana played 3 in two matches last month, Matte Smets none.
Claiming to be preparing for the future, and therefore integrating young people into the group regardless of whether he plays them, Domenico Tedesco has (temporarily?) removed several players who have “past the expiration date” in his eyes, and who could probably have returned service to at least make up the number in view of the absentees. Could Michy Batshuayi or Hans Vanaken not have come to help? We know: this Nations League is not of much use, and the Devils are almost eliminated from it anyway.
If the Espoirs qualify, there will be no regrets. If they are narrowly eliminated, won’t we wonder if the liveliness of a Mbangula, the experience of a Sardella (recent captain of the U21s!) or the calm of a Vermeeren could have made the difference? ? And this without insulting those who replaced them. However, we can also ask questions about the very selection of Gill Swerts, who had initially left aside a Kos Karetsas who was very close to Greece and has still not taken over a Matias Fernandez-Pardo who is gaining strength in Lille. ..
