The selection introduces fresh talent alongside returning regulars, including a senior debut call-up for 20-year-old defender Josue Kongolo from the under-21 team. Kongolo steps in after AC Milan's Koni De Winter rejected the invitation over past benching frustrations, while Hugo Cuypers earned a surprise offensive role from Mexico. In addition to these shifts, fitness concerns forced several key players out, including injured defender Zeno Debast and an ill Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Key points
Koni De Winter declined his selection after remaining an unused substitute across six pre…: Koni De Winter declined his selection after remaining an unused substitute across six previous international matches.
Multiple regular contributors including Zeno Debast, Malick Fofana, and Lois Openda were…: Multiple regular contributors including Zeno Debast, Malick Fofana, and Lois Openda were excluded from the 26-man roster.
Belgium enters their final two Nations League group fixtures sitting on a total of six po…: Belgium enters their final two Nations League group fixtures sitting on a total of six points.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
BRUSSELS, Nov 6 : Belgium will have Jeremy Doku back for their last two Nations League group matches against Turkey and Italy as coach Mark van Bommel on Friday named a 26-man selection for this month's fixtures.
• Doku last played for his country at the World Cup, where he struggled with illness and was absent for the opening four Nations League Group A1 games in September and October, where Belgium collected six points
• There was a surprise call-up for Mexico-based striker Hugo Cuypers
• The 20-year-old Josue Kongolo gets a first call-up after moving from Belgium's under-21 team
• Kongolo replaces AC Milan defender Koni De Winter, who Van Bommel said had refused a call-up because he was unhappy at having been left on the bench for Belgium's six games at this year's World Cup and in the Nations League
• Defender Zeno Debast is injured and Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Newcastle United has been ill and trained little over the last weeks, so was left out of the squad along with Malick Fofana and Lois Openda
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