The surprise in choosing the European Championship? Vanaken clearly has a place in Duivels

Now, with the end of the club competitions quickly approaching, national coach Domenico Tedesco regularly appears in the stands. So he is busy shaping his selection for the European Championship. Although a number of candidates already realize that it will be a difficult story for them.

Just before the European Championship, the Devils will play two training matches at home. Montenegro will be the opponents on June 5, followed by a farewell match against Luxembourg three days later. Normally, Domenico Tedesco would announce his selection for the European Championship about two weeks before the first match.

However, the general expectation is that the national coach will rely largely on players who have successfully completed the qualifying campaign. He is complemented by Kevin De Bruyne who will hopefully be fit. However, there are some candidates who have fallen under the radar, but are performing well at club level.

I'm next to the boat

Hans Vanaken is one of them. The two-time Golden Boot winner was only called up by Tedesco and then remained confined to the bench. During other international matches he was always ignored. However, he is one of the few players at Club Brugge who is having a good season.

But under Tedesco, the playmaker seems to have lost his place in the national team. Something he also realizes. “You have no influence on the national coach's choices. You have no control over them,” he said. The newspaper. “I have a feeling that I can still contribute something. I'm different from the other Red Devils midfielders, but I shouldn't take the European Championship into account. I'm very realistic.”

Official announcement?

Vanakin states that Tedesco was always right with him, and even called him personally to explain his choices. But in the meantime, the national coach has extended his contract until after the 2026 World Cup. So it seems unlikely that the 31-year-old Vanakken will play for the national team again. Is it time to officially announce his retirement? He added, “I was not present during the recent international matches, and the chances of returning are very slim, but… is such a farewell no longer a thing for big names? I do not think people are waiting for such an announcement from me.” “.