Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco is including Axel Witsel and newcomer Maxim De Cuyper in his squad for the European football championships in Germany. Tedesco announced a selection of 25 players on Tuesday morning. He is allowed to choose a maximum of 26 players.
The 35-year-old Witsel played his 130th and until now last international match at the end of 2022. That was against Croatia at the World Cup in Qatar, where Belgium faltered in the group stage. A few months later, the player announced his farewell as an international, although afterwards he said that he was "open" to a return.
As Jan Vertonghen (groin injury) and Arthur Theate (ankle injury) are somewhat doubtful due to injuries, the back line is thin. This freed up space for Witsel, who is a regular at Atlético Madrid at centre-back.
Maxim De Cuyper, the 23-year-old versatile defender of Belgian champion Club Brugge, is the only newcomer in the selection.
Here are the names of the rest of the selection: in goal Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton Town), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest)
In defence: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge), Wout Faes (Leicester), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid)
In midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Amadou Onana (Everton), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético Madrid, Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg)
Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Romelu Lukaku (AS Roma), Dodi Lukebakio (FC Sevilla), Loïs Openda (RB Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
On Friday, the Red Devils will gather in Tubize (Walloon Brabant) for the start of their preparations. Before departing for Germany on 12 June, two more friendlies are scheduled at the King Boudewijn Stadium in Brussels, against Montenegro on 5 June and Luxembourg on 8 June. The Red Devils open their Euros in Frankfurt on 17 June against Slovakia. Following that, Belgium will play Romania in Cologne on 22 June. The Belgians conclude their Group E matches on 26 June in Stuttgart with a game against Ukraine.