Ahead of Thursday's match against Turkey, Belgium coach Mark van Bommel and captain Tielemans answered questions from the media on Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, Belgium, third in Group A of the Nations League qualifiers with 6 points, will visit Turkey, who are fourth with 0 points. Less than an hour after the final whistle of the Turkey-Belgium match, France, first in Group A with 10 points, will face second-placed Italy, who have 7 points. For Mark van Bommel and Belgium, a win in Izmir is essential to qualify for the quarterfinals of the tournament. The Belgium coach and captain attended a press conference at 6:45 PM local time to answer questions from reporters. Mark van Bommel first spoke about Lukaku's physical condition. Due to a hip injury, Lukaku will not travel with the team.
Mark van Bommel said: "Lukaku trained this morning. He already felt hip pain yesterday. It's hard to say exactly what the problem is. He didn't feel 100%, so we decided to keep him in Tubize for treatment, hoping he can make it for Sunday's match." He then spoke about the Belgium top scorer's playing time at Fenerbahçe: "He has started the last few games, but the atmosphere within the club is tense. They fired the entire coaching staff, which brought a fresh start. It would be better for Lukaku to continue accumulating playing time."
Without Lukaku, Mark van Bommel was not happy: "Whether starting or as a substitute, he is very important to us. When he is on the bench, opponents also factor him in when he comes on. And in the locker room, he is equally valuable."
Captain Tielemans agreed: "Lukaku tried to train today, but he couldn't make it. It's a blow because he is crucial to the team and the entire squad. He has been with us for many years. In the last training camp, even though he hadn't played many games then, we could already see how important he is to us. It's really a shame for him and the whole team. I hope we can get through this difficult time together." Then, another tricky issue was brought up: the competition for the winger positions.
Mark van Bommel joked: "There are several players who can play this position. They all get playing time, and they can all score and assist. Choosing the right person is really a challenge. However, if things don't go well, we can also bring on different players. This is not ideal for the opponent, but for us, it's an opportunity to put pressure on them." He will likely have to choose between Doku and Mika Godts, who impressed in the last training camp. Mark van Bommel explained: "After the first international break, Doku was very impressed with how we played in these four games. Overall, he liked it and wanted to be part of it. This is a positive sign. At Paris Saint-Germain, Mika Godts has played on the right wing many times. Trossard, Mika Godts, Diego Moreira, Doku, and Lukebakio can all play on the wing. Leandro and Mika Godts can also play as a number 10. There are many options." As for his selection plans, Mark van Bommel did not reveal much more. The Belgium coach also spoke about the significance of this match and this international window, which is to qualify for the later stages of the Nations League. He said: "We don't think everything will be over tomorrow. It's not easy to finish first because we are 4 points behind the leaders, and there are only two games left. We have to finish in the top two, don't we? First or second, it's all the same."
Tielemans and Belgium will face a fiery home atmosphere in Turkey. Turkish fans have already created a lot of noise in Sclessin, and it will only get louder in Turkey. He said: "The stadium looks empty now, but it will be different tomorrow. We will focus on the pitch and prepare as best as we can to play a good game. We must try to control everything that happens off the field." When asked about his club situation, Tielemans evaded the question: "No matter what happens at the club, I am always happy to come here. The atmosphere is great. Outside, especially outside the club, there is a lot of talk about Manchester United, so I won't say much more. Anything anyone says will be magnified, so I prefer to remain calm."
Manchester United's Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens is often criticized in England, but Mark van Bommel said this does not affect him: "Senne Lammens has always been very calm. I coached him at Antwerp before, and he was pretty much the same then. He doesn't seem to care much, whether things are going well or badly. He also performed very well in the Nations League after the World Cup and was able to raise his level. I'm not worried about him. It would be better if the club situation were calmer, but that's the reality. It's the same for Tielemans. But I believe both of them can handle this situation." Mark van Bommel then spoke about the possible changes in Turkey after the coaching change. He said: "We didn't completely dominate Turkey in Liege, even though the 3-0 result might suggest that. They always created more chances than their opponents, so they had many opportunities, but they couldn't capitalize on them. With a new coach, the playing style is likely to be different. We must be prepared, and I think we have done well." Belgium therefore hopes to dominate Turkey in the match. "We have had such moments in France before, although not many. Our goal is to keep improving. There are always times when we can't completely limit the opponent, but then we have to organize the game. This team is smart and capable of doing that. It's not easy because we only have two or three days. But we did quite well last time, and I think we can do it again this time," the former Antwerp coach concluded.