Within the absence of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco has confidence his younger gamers can take centre stage towards Italy.
Belgium journey to the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday to face the Azzurri of their Nations League group A2 conflict, hoping to bounce again from their 2-0 defeat to France final month.
However they may have to take action within the absence of two of their most inventive gamers in Lukaku and De Bruyne.
Lukaku has made a effective begin to life underneath Antonio Conte at Napoli, scoring three objectives and laying on an extra 4 assists in 5 Serie A outings thus far.
The 31-year-old can be Belgium’s all-time main goalscorer, netting 85 objectives in 119 appearances, however has not earned a recall to the squad after being dropped final month.
Manchester Metropolis’s De Bruyne requested to skip Belgium’s remaining Nations League fixtures for 2024 to be able to handle his workload.
De Bruyne performed each of Belgium’s video games within the September worldwide break, as they beat Israel 3-1 earlier than dropping to France in Lyon.
However Tedesco is assured that the Crimson Devils’ “new era” can get ends in their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
“We’ve got some absent gamers … However now we have many promising kids, a brand new era, stuffed with expertise; we’re completely happy,” Tedesco mentioned.
Roma. #DEVILTIME pic.twitter.com/2CEZhRNxYe
— Belgian Crimson Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 9, 2024
Following Belgium’s defeat to France, De Bruyne made headlines by questioning the mentality and combating spirit of Tedesco’s crew.
Nonetheless, the 33-year-old pledged his dedication to the nationwide aspect till not less than the 2026 World Cup.
Fellow midfielder Youri Tielemans agreed with De Bruyne’s frustrations, and mentioned the incident was firmly behind them forward of squaring off towards Italy.
“It was a message expressing his frustration and disappointment, not a damaging message… the case is closed for us,” Tielemans mentioned.
