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Radja Nainggolan left out of Belgium World Cup squad

Radja Nainggolan has been left out of Belgium's squad for the World Cup.

The AS Roma midfielder, who scored twice in their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, has had a chequered relationship with national coach Roberto Martinez.

Martinez has twice dropped Nainggolan but he was back in the Belgium squad for their recent friendly with Saudi Arabia.

Nainggolan opts to quit Belgium
Nainggolan opts to quit Belgium

Roma midfielder retires from international football, following his omission from World Cup squad...

However, Nainggolan then missed Belgium's last training session for unexplained reasons - leading to speculation he might not make the cut for next month's finals in Russia despite his huge popularity with fans.

The 30-year-old later announced on social media that he is retiring from international football, having won 29 caps over a nine-year period.

Thierry Henry Belgium training Michy Batshuayi
Image: Michy Batshuayi is named in Belgium's initial squad

Also missing from the initial 28-man squad is Liverpool striker Divock Origi and Everton winger Kevin Mirallas -although Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, who joined Borussia Dortmund on loan in January before an ankle ligament injury ended his season, has been included.

Batshuayi is one of 16 UK-based players in the squad, along with Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany (Man City), Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini (Man Utd), Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace), Christian Kabasele (Watford), Nacer Chadli (West Brom), Matz Sels (Newcastle) and Dedryck Boyata (Celtic).

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Nacer Chadli (left), Marouane Fellaini (centre) and Jan Vertonghen have been included in Roberto Martinez's squad
Image: Nacer Chadli (left), Marouane Fellaini (centre) and Jan Vertonghen have been included in Roberto Martinez's squad

Belgium are in the same group as England at the World Cup, along with Tunisia and Panama, and their squad will be trimmed to a final 23 on June 4.

They meet Gareth Southgate's side in their final group game on June 28 in Kaliningrad.

Belgium's initial 28-man squad for the World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels, Koen Casteels

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Leander Dendoncker, Laurent Ciman, Christian Kabasele, Vincent Kompany, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku

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