Belgium remains tight-lipped about defensive injuries but reveals Axel Witsel’s return to training ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Slovakia.
Germany, Bollywood Fever: Belgium has kept quiet about their defensive injuries but disclosed that Axel Witsel has returned to individual training ahead of their European Championship Group E match against Slovakia in Frankfurt on Monday.
The Belgian team held a closed training session on Saturday and instructed journalists not to ask about player fitness at the subsequent media conference. However, right-back Timothy Castagne revealed that Witsel, who had missed training on Friday, completed an individual session.
Witsel, who came out of retirement to join the squad as a center-back after transitioning from midfield at Atletico Madrid this season, is a crucial part of the team. There were no updates on the fitness of Jan Vertonghen and Arthur Theate, whose potential absences could cause a defensive crisis for coach Domenico Tedesco.
“I’m not worried about the fact that there are some absentees. Everyone who will play is ready; there is enough quality,” Castagne assured reporters.
With Wout Faes and 20-year-old Zeno Debast as the other specialized center-backs, Castagne, boasting 43 caps since 2018, is prepared to take on a leadership role in the defense. “I’m the most experienced player at the back. I always talk, but now I must do so even more. Of course, when I’m on the right, I can’t talk to the left back. When there is a pause in the game, I use that time to make adjustments.”
Castagne noted that there was no directive from Tedesco to ease up in training but acknowledged the team must avoid further injuries. “We give it our all; we were not extra careful because there are a lot of injured players. But of course, we won’t do stupid things. There’s no point in making unnecessary tackles.”
Despite the injuries, Castagne is confident in Belgium’s potential to secure their first Euro title, having been runners-up in 1980. “The group is a good mix of experience and youth. I’m not here to prove to you that we have a chance; it has to happen on the pitch. We don’t care if the outside world sees us as a favorite (or not). The most important thing is that we believe that we can achieve something beautiful.”
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