Christian Benteke fails to make 23-man list
Wednesday 6 June 2018 15:08, UK
Vincent Kompany has been named in Belgium's World Cup squad despite picking up an injury on Saturday.
But Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke has been left out of the squad, which manager Roberto Martinez has reduced from 28 to 23.
Kompany is fresh from leading Manchester City to the Premier League title but picked up a groin injury during the 0-0 draw with Portugal in Brussels on Saturday.
Belgium begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 18 and Martinez will give Kompany as much time as possible to regain his fitness.
"I think the situation is very clear," said Martinez.
"We are going to try to use the rules to our advantage. We need to name the outfield players squad 24 hours before Panama, that is the 17th of June.
"So, until then we are going to try to give the maximum time to see what the reaction is with Vinny.
"I think in any player, maybe a scan would reveal what the extent of the problem is.
"With Vinny Kompany, we have spoken very closely with Manchester City, and experience over the last few years is that Vinny's reactions to certain soft tissue injuries, they cannot describe via scan.
"You need to wait a period of seven, eight days and then you get a good opportunity to make a good diagnosis, so the approach is very easy.
"This is the World Cup and, due to the role of Vinny Kompany, that's a decision that we've taken in order to give the best possible chance to make the right decision
"Vinny Kompany has been a leader, has been working extremely hard in the camp. He performed in a fantastic manner while he was on the pitch against Portugal."
Laurent Ciman will be with the Belgium squad and is on stand-by should Kompany fail to recover in time.
Benteke misses out after a somewhat disappointing season for Palace, with Michy Batshuayi and Romelu Lukaku landing the striking berths, while there is also a spot for former Manchester United attacking midfielder Adnan Januzaj.
Martinez added: "Christian Benteke has been the toughest decision.
"I told him he has done everything he could have done in the camp. He has been an impressive figure.
"I think the performance he showed against Portugal shows you that he is in a good moment and that's been the toughest decision from a football point of view.
"The decision is for the balance of the squad and we want to take two number nines, just because of what we're going to need in terms of the shape and the balance of the squad.
"That's why Adnan Januzaj has got a really good opportunity to bring his freshness and help us in certain roles in attacking play."
Belgium are in Group G at the World Cup, where they will also face England and Tunisia.
Belgium squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
