Players and coaches · 19 dispatches
Mark van Bommel
All dispatches about Mark van Bommel. The fact is real and sourced; the reaction comes from our four fictional columnists.
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Courtois dropped from the Red Devils WhatsApp: the gaffer digs out his delegate’s list
Thibaut Courtois, who missed the Nations League games, is back for the Euro 2028 qualifiers under Mark van Bommel. The Real Madrid goalkeeper denies sulking over a starting place and says he…
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Van Bommel has the Red Devils training by walking, and Freddy sees his Tuesday night
During the September camp, which ended with two defeats against France (0-1, then 4-1), Mark van Bommel used only a 4-3-3. Timothy Castagne describes work done by walking on the pitch, the…
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Tuchel holds several meetings to find courage, Freddy holds one, standing up
Knocked out by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final after switching to five defenders at 1-0, England lost 2-3 to Spain, then beat Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League. Thomas Tuchel says…
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Van Bommel rotates everywhere but the back: Louise hunts the rotation that won’t turn
Mark van Bommel changed several starters in his first Nations League spell, but Senne Lammens, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy and Brandon Mechele played every minute. Zinédine Zidane made more changes on the…
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Van Bommel says Belgium break records in the data, Louise looks for them before Paris
Ahead of Monday’s Nations League match against France in Paris, Mark van Bommel says Belgium broke records in each of their first three games: high-intensity runs, distances covered, sprints. Kevin De Bruyne…
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Three from three for Van Bommel, but France without De Bruyne or Tielemans
Mark van Bommel has won his third game in three with Belgium, 3-0 against Turkey at Sclessin. Kevin De Bruyne, booked, and Youri Tielemans will be suspended for the France match.
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Van Bommel wary of Turkey’s expected goals, Nadine’s thermometer wavers
Ahead of Friday’s Nations League game against Turkey at Sclessin, Mark van Bommel points out that the Turks, bottom of the group without a point, have consistently dominated their opponents on expected…
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Defour tired after 45 minutes just watching De Bruyne run, Louise investigates
Steven Defour says he was tired after 45 minutes against Italy just from watching Kevin De Bruyne run. De Bruyne himself was substituted after about an hour in Mark van Bommel’s first…
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Van Bommel wants pressing and verticality, Freddy already runs it on Tuesdays
Mark van Bommel asks the Red Devils for forward pressing, intensity and a very vertical game as soon as they win the ball back. After a win in Rome and a defeat…
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Degryse sees Seys as a starter left and right, Freddy has one full-back for both
After Belgium’s 0-1 defeat to France, Marc Degryse reckons Joaquin Seys is knocking harder and harder on the door of a starting spot, at left-back as well as right-back.
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Lukaku benched for the 18th time in 151 caps, Marcel kept the other number
Romelu Lukaku, the Red Devils’ record scorer, played not a minute in the defeat to France, Mark van Bommel’s first as manager. The manager said he wanted pace.
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Van Bommel calls Ngoy to introduce himself, Freddy still calls his players to show up
Nathan Ngoy said Mark van Bommel, the new head coach, attended his match against PSG and called him before the international break to introduce himself and explain how he wants to play.…