Belgian GK Simon Mignolet has announced the end of his international career. The goalkeeper, second choice behind Thibaut Courtois in the Belgian team, will fully focus on his employer Club Brugge.
After Hazard and Alderweireld, another veteran says goodbye to the Red Devils
After Eden Hazard and Toby Alderweireld, the 35-year-old Mignolet is the third international to say goodbye since the World Cup in Qatar, which failed for Belgium. “Sometimes you have to make difficult choices. Today is such a day,” the keeper, the best player on the Belgian fields of the past season, writes on social media. “To all my teammates, staff and fans: thank you.”
Mignolet made his debut for the Belgian team on March 25, 2011 and played a total of 35 international matches. He participated in three World Cups and two European Championships. During those tournaments he was always second goalkeeper, behind the undisputed number one Thibaut Courtois.
For Belgium, the European Championship qualifying series starts on Friday 24 March with an away match against Sweden. That happens with a new national coach: Domenico Tedesco has been appointed as the successor to Roberto Martínez.
Hakimi despite accusation, in Morocco selection
Sticking with international football, World Cup sensation Morocco will also pick up the international thread again this month. National coach Walid Regragui announced his selection for the exhibition games against Brazil and Peru, and in that group there was room for Achraf Hakimi.
Hakimi, one of the strongholds of the Lions of the Atlas, is currently accused of a rape that allegedly took place a few weeks ago. The right back of Paris Saint-Germain is under judicial supervision. No reason for Regragui to keep him out of the group, he explained.
“I have spoken to Achraf, I speak to him and my other players often. He’s calm, that’s the main thing. We assume his innocence, until proven otherwise, we and all Moroccans stand behind Achraf. He has to think about football, we are with him with all our hearts and I think it will do him good to return to Morocco and feel the support, “says RMC Sport from the mouth of the national coach.
The accusation was also no reason for his club to keep him aside for the time being: Hakimi participated in the Champions League match against Bayern Munich last week. That was not a success: the Parisian star ensemble lost in Germany and has to put away its dream at the Cup with the Big Ears for another year.
