Belgium borrows unknown player for World Cup training after coach’s request
Belgium has “borrowed” a surprise player to help with their World Cup training, following a request from manager Rudi Garcia. After winning friendly matches against Croatia and Tunisia, the Red Devils are getting ready for their first World Cup game against Egypt on Monday, June 15.
The team is staying in Seattle, Washington, training at the Performance Centre and clubhouse of the MLS team, Seattle Sounders. They’ve been enjoying the great facilities before playing their opener at Sounders’ Lumen Field stadium.
Thanks to their partnership with the Sounders, Belgium was able to bring in a player from the team to help out. According to Sporza, Belgium borrowed rookie goalkeeper Max Anchor to join the training sessions. Garcia wanted a fourth goalkeeper to keep the training matches balanced with even numbers.
This idea isn’t new—England and Germany have done the same, with Germany even including a goalkeeper who wasn’t eligible to play in their World Cup squad photo. Belgium originally hoped to use Maarten Vandevoordt for this role, but his club RB Leipzig didn’t allow it.
Vandevoordt, known for being the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history, is ready for a big season with Leipzig next year. So, the chance went to 21-year-old Max Anchor, who became Belgium’s fourth goalkeeper for training.
Anchor is the Sounders’ third-choice keeper and has only played one professional game, for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. Still, he got the amazing chance to train against top players like Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Romelu Lukaku.
Other Sounders goalkeepers might get the same chance to join Belgium’s training sessions during the World Cup as well.