Belgium announce their 2018 World Cup squad, omit star player who scored 2 goals against Liverpool in Champions League

21.05.2018 14:15

AS Roma star midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been left out of Belgium's 2018 World Cup squad under unclear circumstances. Divock Origi also failed to make the list, with Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard expected to lead the attack.

- Radja Nainggolan has failed to make Belgium's 2018 World Cup squad

- The AS Roma star has had a frosty working relationship with national coach Roberto Martinez

- Belgium will play England, Panama and Tunisia in Group G at the World Cup

AS Roma star midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been left out of Belgium's 2018 World Cup squad under unclear circumstances.

According to Sky Sports, the star player who scored a brace in Roma's Champions League semi-final clash against Liverpool will not make the final squad that will travel to Russia for the global football tournament.

The player has reportedly had a strained working relationship with national coach Roberto Martinez, and has twice been dropped from Belgium's line up.

He however made a come back to the squad for Belgium's recent friendly tie against Saudi Arabia before conspicuously missing in Belgium's last training session.

The 30-year old fan's favorite also failed to make the 2014 World Cup tournament in Brazil, in what was somewhat a bizarre exclusion from the Belgian squad.

Nainggolan has only featured 29 appearances for the Red Devils, netting six times including a stunning opener against Wales in the Euro 2016 Quarter-final where Belgium eventually lost 3-2.

The midfielder initially announced his retirement from international duty in August last year, before earning a call up for Belgium's international friendlies against Medico and Japan in November.

Belgium will face England, Tunisia and Panama in Group G.

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Full Squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels, Koen Casteels

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Leander Dendoncker, Laurent Ciman, Christian Kabasele, Vincent Kompany, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Adnan Januzaj, Dries Mertens, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Romelu Lukaku

Earlier, NAIJ.com had reported how Premier League campaigners Liverpool qualified for the final of the 2017/18 Champions League despite losing 4-2 against Roma in Rome on Wednesday night, May 2.

Liverpool won the first leg 5-2, but they will have themselves to blame in the return leg for allowing Roma to come back into the game.

Radja Nainggolan scored two goals against the Reds, but his efforts could not save the Italian club from elimination.

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