Belgium opt to replace injured goalkeeper
PHOTO | JONATHAN NACKSTRAND Belgium's forward Divock Origi (left) and Sweden's defender Rasmus Bengtsson vie for the ball during the friendly football match between Sweden and Belgium at Friends Arena in Solna, near Stockholm on June 1, 2014.
What you need to know:
- Origi, who is the son of former Kenyan international Mike Okoth Origi, had initially been included in the 24-man provisional squad by Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots on May 13.
- Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has made a last-minute change in the goalkeeping department to his 23-man squad for the World Cup, the country's Football Federation announced on Tuesday.
- FIFA rules allow for an injured player to be replaced after their June 2 squad deadline up to 24 hours before a team's first World Cup game.
BRUSSELS
Divock Okoth Origi was on Tuesday included in Belgium's final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Origi, who is the son of former Kenyan international Mike Okoth Origi, had initially been included in the 24-man provisional squad by Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots on May 13.
Kenyans had hopes that the 19-year-old SC Lille forward would turn up for the Harambee Stars but numerous attempts by head coach Adel Amrouche failed to materialise as the forward agreed to play for his country of birth.
Origi has already featured for Belgium both in the youth and senior levels with his latest playing time coming in the last two international friendly matches against Sweden and the 5-1 routing of Luxembourg late last month.
Meanwhile, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has made a last-minute change in the goalkeeping department to his 23-man squad for the World Cup, the country's Football Federation announced on Tuesday.
Sammy Bossut, 28, of Zulte-Waregem has been included at the expense of Koen Casteels, of German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, who has not sufficiently recovered from a fractured tibia in time.
"The 23-man list was submitted to FIFA yesterday evening (Monday) before midnight and included the name of Koen Casteels," said a statement on the Federation's website.
"However, a test undertaken by Casteels today showed that the goalkeeper has not sufficiently recovered in time to take part in the World Cup."
Casteels suffered the injury playing for Hoffenheim on April 6 and had surgery the following day.
FIFA rules allow for an injured player to be replaced after their June 2 squad deadline up to 24 hours before a team's first World Cup game.
With Silvio Proto of champions Anderlecht also injured, Bossut was handed his first cap in last week's friendly win against Luxembourg.
The rest of the Belgian squad will be that announced by Wilmots 10 days ago, with veteran Club Brugge midfielder Timmy Simons and Radja Nainggolan of Roma the most notable absentees, along with injured Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid/ESP - on loan from Chelsea/ENG), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool/ENG), Sammy Bossut (Zulte-Waregem)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich/GER), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City/ENG), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal/ENG), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit Saint Petersburg/RUS), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liège)
Midfielders: Axel Witsel (Zenit Saint Petersburg/RUS), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United/ENG), Steven Defour (Porto/POR), Moussa Dembélé, Nacer Chadli (both Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg/GER)
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Everton/ENG - on loan from Chelsea/ENG), Divock Origi (Lille/FRA), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/ENG), Kevin Mirallas (Everton/ENG), Dries Mertens (Napoli/ITA), Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United/ENG).
