Christian Benteke must be devastated after his emission from the Belgian World Cup squad. Yet he had class and grace as he commented on the situation.
Vincent Kompany is in the Belgium squad despite injury. Regardless of their being only two other strikers involved, Christian Benteke was excluded. Benteke is fit and ready to play, while Kompany has a groin problem.
Manager of Belgium, Roberto Martinez, said it was his “toughest decision”. Yet he made the difficult call to withdraw the Crystal Palace forward from his final 23-man-squad on Monday.
Benteke had a composed and classy response after learning of his exclusion from the Belgium squad. Many professional sportsmen would have found it impossible to do so.
Dissapointed to have been left out of the squad going to the #WorldCup. I’ll keep working hard and come back stronger. Now let’s all get behind the @BelRedDevils and show them our support! 👊🏾🇧🇪#REDTOGETHER #Russia2018 pic.twitter.com/VAJQRBlRkt
— Christian Benteke (@chrisbenteke) June 4, 2018
Not including the 27-year-old is possibly the correct decision. I cannot see where he would get game time, unless due to injury or suspension. Besides, most would definitively concur that rival frontmen Michy Batshuayi and Romelu Lukaku are better players.
Current form
For Palace, Benteke has been inconsistent meanwhile missing easy chances and penalties. Being involved in 7 goals in 31 club matches is not tournament likely form. He was no doubt still on the fringes of late for his 15 goals for the Eagles throughout 2016/17.
Notwithstanding his hat-trick against Gibraltar for the Belgians this year, he only has three international goals in three years.
Batshuayi has only recently recovered after rehabilitation following ankle trouble. He was playing for Borussia Dortmund when that happened.
"“The last time I was on a pitch, some doctors told me that my World Cup dreams were over, today I’m going Russia.” – Michy Batshuayi (Via: BBC)"
The 24-year-old netted 16 times for Chelsea and Dortmund this campaign. Although Romelu Lukaku will surely lead the Belgian line.
In their previous match, the Red Devils drew with Portugal 0-0. Booing by their own fans echoed during the goalless friendly. Belgium have two warm-up games remaining before the World Cup: Egypt along with Costa Rica.
To add insult to injury, the Eagle was not even mentioned in Sky Sports Football’s World Cup axed-11:
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1003944275258806272?s=19
Wait, really?
Another shocking emission was revealed yesterday. Leroy Sane did not make the cut for Germany either.
DFB boss Joachim Low did however say the City winger has a future in the team. A manoeuvre like this is revealing of their depth.
Sane also responded with respect and encouragement for his former international teammates:
"“Go get that title!” – Leroy Sane (Via: Twitter)"
Next: 5 Reasons Germany are always favourites
They have a great side but should Martinez have taken Benteke to Russia?