Thoughts ahead of Marc Wilmots’ pre-selection

Last week I wrote extensively about Marc Wilmots’ options for Brazil. Today, he’ll announce a group of 27 – including four keepers – as a pre-selection. Given the number of certainties and ‘highly likely to travel’ candidates, it could be that a group of four or five players will be competing for a couple of places. The friendlies prior to the final announcement of 23 could be tense affairs.

As Wilmots will include four keepers, giving Koen Casteels a chance to get fit, it means that there will be only room for two players from a group that could include Timmy Simons, Radja Nainggolan, Adnan Januzaj and Igor De Camargo.

Other players that could miss out from the pre-selection include: Silvio Proto, Anthony Vanden Borre, Jelle Vossen, Michy Batsuayi and Thorgan Hazard.

See here for a full run-down on Wilmots’ options for Brazil, including young players who could be in the frame in two years’ time.

Here’s my prediction for today’s announcement – it can be seen live at www.youtube.com/belgianreddevils – 14.00 Brussels time.

Keepers (4)
Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Colin Coosemans/Koen Casteels

Defence (8)
Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Daniel Van Buyten, Nic Lombaerts,
Sébastien Pocognoli, Laurent Ciman,

Central midfield/wing (11)
Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Defour, Moussa Dembélé, Nacer Chadli, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard, Timmy Simons, Adnan Januzaj, Radja Nainggolan

Strikers (3)
Romelu Lukaku, Igor De Camargo, Kevin Mirallas