Milan’s De Winter among five Belgium players dropped for Italy clash
MILAN, ITALY - MARCH 08: Francesco Pio Esposito of Inter competes with Koni De Winter of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan centre-back Koni De Winter is one of the five Belgium players who will not be part of the matchday squad for Friday evening’s Nations League match against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico according to the latest updates.
Belgium team news: No De Winter for Italy clash
Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel named a squad of 28 players for the September-October international break, which includes a Nations League test against Italy in Rome at 19.45 BST on Friday.
As Nations League matches are official, UEFA-sanctioned fixtures, teams are only able to name 23 players in their matchday squads.
This means that Belgium have had to cut five names from their list. Those players are: De Winter, Mike Penders, Malick Fofana, Leandro Trossard and Kyriani Sabbe according to reports in Belgium.
Italy have also had to exclude several players from their matchday squad ahead of the Belgium clash, given that Roberto Mancini named a squad of 34 players earlier this month.
The Italy players who will watch from the stands are Massimo Pessina, Daniele Ghilardi, Eddy Kouadio, Matteo Ruggeri, Samuele Ricci, Nicolo Fagioli, Samuele Inacio, Nicolo Zaniolo, Antonio Vergara and Sebastiano Esposito.
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