Turkey play Belgium in the UEFA Nations League A Group 4 on November 12 at 20:00 local time, as reported by Sözcü Gazetesi.
The match takes place at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium in Izmir. Belgium enter the fixture following a pre-match press conference held by head coach Mark van Bommel at the venue.
Van Bommel Assesses Turkish Opponent
Belgium won the previous fixture between the teams 3-0, but Mark van Bommel said that result did not mean they crushed their opponents, according to Sözcü Gazetesi. “Türkiye’nin tüm rakiplerine karşı çok daha fazla şansları oldu ama bunu neticeye, sonuca çeviremedi,” said Mark van Bommel, head coach of the Belgium national team.
He added that Turkey’s style of play will likely change under a new coach, but his side has prepared accordingly. “Ekibi de ona göre hazırladık,” Mark van Bommel added.
“Biz sahaya kazanmak için çıkacağız,” van Bommel told Sözcü Gazetesi regarding the team’s objective in Izmir.
Romelu Lukaku Left Out of Squad
Romelu Lukaku remains in Belgium due to a minor hip injury and will miss the fixture against Turkey, according to NTV Haber. The Belgian Football Federation announced that the 33-year-old forward stayed behind for treatment under optimal conditions.
“Romelu Lukaku, Türkiye-Belçika maçında forma giyemeyecek. Hafif bir kalça sorunu bulunan oyuncu, en uygun koşullarda tedavi görebilmesi için tedbir amacıyla Belçika’da kalacak. Sağlık ekibi, onun pazar günkü maça hazır olması için elinden gelen her şeyi yapıyor,” the Belgian national team shared in a social media statement.
“Lukaku, kalçadan sakatlık yaşadı. Dün antrenmana geldiğini ancak bu maça gelmemesinin daha doğru olacağına birlikte karar verdik,” said van Bommel, according to Hürriyet.
Van Bommel said that he expects the forward to be ready for the upcoming match against Italy on Sunday. “Lukaku mental olarak çok güçlü ve Fenerbahçe’de çok maç oynadı. Küçük bir sakatlık geçiriyor. Önümüzdeki pazar günü oynayacağını umuyorum,” van Bommel stated.
Van Bommel Planlı Yüksek Pres Ve Doku'nun Esnekliği Üzerinde Duruyor
“Özellikle Fransa maçında biz kendi oyun planımızı oynadık ama bunu geliştirmeye çalışıyoruz,” van Bommel told Habertürk, outlining plans for high pressing and rapid transitions.
Addressing squad options, van Bommel said that Jeremy Doku’s ability to operate on either flank provides tactical flexibility. “İki kanatta oynamasıyla daha çok seçeneğimiz oldu. Çok tehlikeli oyuncu olduğunu da gösterdi,” van Bommel said regarding Doku.
Match Details and Squad Status
The fixture at Gürsel Aksel Stadium kicks off at 20:00, with no replacement called up for the injured Lukaku. The Belçika Futbol Federasyonu announced that no other player will be called up to the squad, and the player’s condition will be re-evaluated on Friday, November 13.
Fenerbahçe is also closely monitoring the experienced player’s condition and requested reports regarding the injury, while Emre Belözoğlu and his staff contacted the Belgium national team health team following the emergence of the injury status.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
-
The match takes place at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium in Izmir, as reported by Sözcü Gazetesi.
-
Lukaku stayed in Belgium due to a minor hip injury to receive treatment, according to NTV Haber.
-
Mark van Bommel confirmed that no replacement player will be added to the squad in place of Romelu Lukaku.
Keep reading