Wilmots Sparks Community Debate Over Vanaken’s Belgium Place
Former Belgian national team coach Marc Wilmots has ignited a linguistic community debate around Red Devils midfielder Hans Vanaken, claiming the Flemish press pushed the three-time Belgian Golden Shoe winner into the starting lineup. The comments, made during Wilmots’ appearance as a studio analyst on French-language broadcaster RTBF on Saturday, have drawn sharp criticism from Flemish media and added a political dimension to what was already a heated tactical discussion.
The Controversial Statement
When asked about Vanaken’s first starting appearance of the 2026 World Cup against New Zealand, Wilmots stated: “Vooral de Vlaamse pers heeft gepusht. Enormement” (“Especially the Flemish press pushed. Enormously”). According to Het Laatste Nieuws, when pressed by moderator Jérémie Baise on whether press pressure would influence his lineup choices, Wilmots replied: “Listen, not with me, no. Let that be clear.”
A Tactical Point with Political Overtones
Wilmots’ comments tap into a sensitive nerve in Belgian society. Belgium is divided into Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia, and the national football team has traditionally been one of the few institutions that unites both communities. By attributing Vanaken’s selection to “the Flemish press,” Wilmots implicitly suggested that Dutch-language media influence team selection—a charge that plays into existing French-speaking perceptions of Flemish dominance.
HLN football editor Niels Poissonnier explicitly criticized this framing, writing: “Making Hans Vanaken a community issue is equally deplorable. Vanaken is primarily a footballing issue rather than a subject ‘of the Flemish press.’”
The Tactical Debate
Beyond the political dimension, Wilmots raised a legitimate tactical question about whether Vanaken, Kevin De Bruyne, and Youri Tielemans can coexist in midfield against stronger opponents. As reported by VoetbalPrimeur.be, Wilmots argued: “Vanaken plays at Club just like De Bruyne. He drops off and looks for free space. So if both drop deep, they need to really understand each other well.” He advocated for a defensive midfielder like Amadou Onana or Nicolas Raskin to provide balance.
Vanaken’s Performance Against New Zealand
Despite Wilmots’ skepticism, Vanaken delivered a strong performance in Belgium’s 5-1 victory over New Zealand. Analysts noted that he elevated the team’s play, with both De Bruyne and Tielemans recording their best statistics of the tournament alongside him. Former Red Devil Anthony Vanden Borre, now an analyst on RTL’s “Dans Le Vestiaire,” strongly defended Vanaken, calling him “a magnificent player” with “technique, refinement, and intelligence” who “freed the whole team.”
Vertonghen’s Prior Criticism Undermines Wilmots
The timing of Wilmots’ comments is notable. Just two days earlier, record international Jan Vertonghen publicly criticized Wilmots’ tactical ability during Euro 2016 on Sporza, calling his coaching “pure incompetence” and “tactical inability” regarding the 2-0 loss to Italy. As the HLN article pointed out: “You have to ask yourself what Wilmots’ expertise is still worth.”
What’s Next for Vanaken?
Belgium now faces Senegal in the Round of 16, and the question of whether Rudi Garcia will keep Vanaken in the starting lineup remains open. According to VoetbalNieuws.be, Wilmots stated he does not believe the De Bruyne-Vanaken-Tielemans midfield can work against stronger opponents. However, the overwhelming positive reaction to Vanaken’s performance—from both analysts and fans—puts pressure on Garcia to maintain the winning formula.
Analysis: When Football Meets Politics
This controversy illustrates how sports and politics intersect in Belgium’s complex linguistic landscape. What began as a legitimate tactical debate about midfield balance has been transformed into a community issue by Wilmots’ comments. The core question—whether Vanaken should start against Senegal—remains unresolved, but the debate now carries additional political and linguistic baggage that reflects Belgium’s broader societal divisions. For a team that has traditionally united the country, this is an unwelcome distraction ahead of a crucial knockout match.