Konstantinos Karetsas, the young nugget from Genk, joins the Belgian Espoirs to replace Mika Godts, out due to a hamstring injury. Only 16 years old, Karetsas had already been called up in October and played a few minutes against Hungary. This new selection confirms his choice for Belgium, although Greece, his other country of origin, has also been trying to attract him for several months.
The situation is turbulent in the Belgian national teams, where the withdrawals follow one another. Among the seniors, Domenico Tedesco must manage the absences of several renowned players, such as Charles De Ketelaere, Jérémy Doku, Hannes Delcroix, and Loïs Openda. To fill these absences, he called on three talents from the U21 team, namely Samuel Mbangula, Arthur Vermeeren, and Kilian Sardella, for the Nations League matches against Italy on November 14 and Israel on November 17.
NEW IMPS
These promotions within the A team force the Espoirs coach, Gil Swerts, to adjust his squad. Several young talents join the U21 team, including Joel Schingtienne (Venice), Rein Van Helden (Saint-Truiden), Richie Sagrado (Venice), Ilay Camara (Standard), and now Konstantinos Karetsas.
THE NUGGET
Young Karetsas, in particular, is being talked about for his impressive performances with Genk, which quickly caught the attention of the national team staff. His integration into the ranks of the Espoirs demonstrates accelerated progression and undeniable potential.
Furthermore, the U21 team will also have to do without Christiaan Ravych, defender of Cercle Bruges, who is also injured and will therefore miss the next matches. His absence will be felt, especially as the Espoirs face the Czech Republic in qualifying for the Euro Espoirs.
The next matches of the Belgian national teams are therefore marked by last minute changes and strategic choices, in a context where every player counts. The Espoirs hope to take advantage of these new recruits to continue their successful journey towards the Euro Espoirs.
