Van Bommel backs De Ketelaere as False 9 for Italy clash, calls him a complete player | OneFootball

Mark van Bommel has handed Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere the False 9 role for Belgium against Italy in Rome, with Romelu Lukaku starting on the bench in this Nations League Group A clash.

“I’m excited for the game, but then we’ll be calm on the pitch and we know what we need to do,” said Van Bommel, speaking to RAI Sport and Sky Sport Italia.

“Lukaku is a great player, but he needs to find his fitness. At this moment, De Ketelaere is the best choice. He is a complete player. De Ketelaere had a great World Cup, he’s really intelligent, can protect the ball, turn and attack the space, good with his passing and positioning.”

Kick-off is at 19.45 UK time, 20.45 CEST, at the Stadio Olimpico. It is Van Bommel’s debut in the role, and his first coaching job since 2024. Roberto Mancini returns to the Nazionale after controversially leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2023, and he was the last to win silverware in 2021.

The nations share Group A with France and Türkiye. Italy are unbeaten against Belgium in competitive fixtures since a 2-1 European Championship play-off in May 1972, a run of five wins and two draws. The most recent meeting was a 1-0 Nations League victory in Brussels in November 2024, with Luciano Spalletti on the bench.

Source: Football Italia

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