Belgium as a whole held its breath. But Roberto Martinez made the right choice to select Romelu Lukaku among his 26 players who flew to Qatar. However, the striker is still injured. Currently, we still do not really know the role that Big Rom’ will be able to play in this great competition. One thing seems certain, he should not be ready for the first meeting once morest Canada on November 23.
A question therefore arises: should it be selected? Other coaches have experienced this difficult dilemma. Whether it’s Didier Deschamps with Varane and Kimpembe. Or Aliou Cissé with Sadio Mané.
Before the competition, the French coach had also been formal: “I have never embarked with an injured player for a major competition”he had started for Brut. “Leaving for a big competition with players who are not fit, it occupies too much attention. And for those who have to play, it also monopolizes the medical staff. Personally, I consider that you have to leave with players valid and fit.” Finally, the coach of the Blues had to change his mind in view of the situation. Even if Presnel Kimpembe has already had to forfeit.
Another former coach of the Blues strongly advises once morest taking an injured player: Raymond Domenech. Certainly, the coach is now mocked for his last experience with Nantes. Just as he is still hated in France for the Knysna episode in South Africa. But he also hoisted the blues in the final of the 2006 World Cup once morest Italy.
“Twice I made the mistake of taking players out of form”he began in an interview for TF1. “With Patrick Vieira in 2008 and William Gallas in 2010, I maintained the mad hope that they would come back in time. In fact, I made the same mistake as Roger Lemerre in 2002 with Zinedine Zidane or Jacques Santini in 2004 with Marcel Dessailly.”
He then explained why he wouldn’t do it once more. “The wounded vampirize everything”, he continued. “The media only talk regarding them, the other players wonder regarding their case. In training, we mobilize people specifically so that they can work apart. It’s a wound, a total wound.”
In the not so distant future, this strategy had worked out pretty well for the Devils. Martinez opted to take Kompany despite an injury that sidelined him for the entire group stage. Vince The Prince then resumed his place in eighth and had made several very high level matches. Last year, the Catalan also took on Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel and Eden Hazard. The three tauliers of the Devils were injured or on the return during the preparation. They gradually returned to the competition and overthrew Denmark in the second pool match. The future will tell if Roberto Martinez will regret his choice or not this time around.