BRUSSELS (AP) — Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will lead a rejuvenated Belgium side including a once-retired Alex Witsel at the European Championship next month.
De Bruyne and Witsel were on the 25-man list unveiled by coach Domenico Tedesco on Tuesday. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, preparing for the Champions League final, was not.
Defender Maxim De Cuyper, who won the Belgian league with Club Brugge last weekend, was the only newcomer.
De Bruyne and Witsel are remaining members of the so-called golden generation of Belgian players. While De Bruyne’s presence was expected, Witsel’s was a surprise after Tedesco dropped him from his first squad last year. Witsel soon after announced his retirement from international soccer and did not play in qualifying.
But Tedesco said Witsel’s recent excellent showings with Atletico Madrid convinced him the 35-year-old midfielder was the right choice. Tedesco also traveled to Spain to meet Witsel and discuss a comeback. There was no hard feelings, the coach said, and Witsel immediately agreed to return.
Related articles:
Related suggestion:
Plane crashes into river outside Fairbanks, AlaskaAthens skies turn an orange hue with dust clouds from North AfricaElectrician, 55, filmed racially abusing Muslim women as they returned from a proPolice find body of missing Maine man believed killed after a search that took nearly a yearA top Russian military official reportedly linked to Ukraine's Mariupol arrested for bribePentagon set to send $1 billion in new military aid to Ukraine once bill clears Senate and BidenFormer MIT researcher who killed Yale graduate student sentenced to 35 years in prisonUS advances review of Nevada lithium mine amid concerns over endangered wildflowerSports betting: Caleb Williams favored to be No. 1 overall pick in NFL draftGoogle fires more workers who protested its deal with Israel
0.1239s , 6574.9140625 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by De Bruyne to lead Belgium at Euro 2024 with unretired Witsel ,Culture Canvas news portal