Wilmots calls up Premier League dozen for Belgium in Brazil
Published:Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj is among 12 Premier League players called up by Belgium, 18/1 shots with Coral to win the World Cup, for their finals roster.
The teenage sensation joins Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet and Chelsea-owned stopper Thibaut Courtois; defenders Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal) and Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham); club teammate Marouane Fellaini; Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele; and fellow forwards Nacer Chadli, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas.
Either Koen Costeels (Hoffenheim) or Silvio Proto (Anderlecht) will go to Brazil as third-choice keeper. Also named in defence are former Portsmouth player Anthony Vanden Borre and one-time Manchester City centre back Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich).
Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege) and Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg) complete the Red Devils’ rear-guard options. Wilmots has thus left wing backs Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover) and former Wolves player Jelle van Damme on standby.
Joining Dembele and Fellaini in midfield are Kevin de Bruyne, sold by Chelsea to Wolfsburg in January; Steven Defour (Porto) and Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg). There is no place for veteran Timmy Simons (Club Bruges), however.
Wilmots has plenty of wide options, with Dries Mertens (Napoli) joining Mirallas, Januzaj and Chadli, so Hazard may play in behind the striker. Lille youngster Divock Origi will provide backup to Lukaku in attack, as Michy Batshuayi (Standard Liege) is only on standby.
Talented PSV Eindhoven youngster Zakaria Bakkali misses out altogether. Chelsea star Hazard’s brother Thorgan (on loan at Zulte Waregem) and Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan (owned by Cagliari) complete the reserve options.
Belgium’s 24-man preliminary World Cup squad with six standbys:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, on loan from Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Costeels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht)
Defenders: Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Vincent Kompany (Man City), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege)
Midfielders: Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), Marouane Fellaini (Man Utd), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg), Steven Defour (Porto), Kevin de Bruyne (Wolfsburg)
Forwards: Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Romelu Lukaku (Everton, on loan from Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Nacer Chadli (Tottenham), Adnan Januzaj (Man Utd), Divock Origi (Lille)
Standby: Michy Batshuayi and Jelle van Damme (both Standard Liege), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte Waregem, on loan from Chelsea), midfielder Radja Nainggolan (Roma, on loan from Cagliari), Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover)
Belgium are odds-on 4/6 favourites to top Group H, which also contains Algeria, Russia and South Korea.
