Nicolas Raskin left the national U21 selection on Friday. The Standard midfielder carried another suspension from the U19. That was only discovered just in time by the Belgian Football Association. Raskin was excluded from the U19 on November 19 last year during the game against Greece.
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The nineteen-year-old midfielder was selected for the U21 for the first time this international period by U21 coach Jacky Mathijssen. Due to his suspension, he was unable to play in the crucial European Championship qualifying match in Bosnia on Tuesday. He therefore returned to Standard.
The Young Devils compete in Bosnia for European Championship qualification. After last month’s defeat in Moldova (1-0), the Germans (15 pts) took over the lead in the group. Germany will hit Wales on Tuesday. With thirteen points, the Belgians are sure of at least the second place. That can also yield a spot in the final round.
After all, the nine group winners and the five best numbers two will qualify directly for a first group stage, in March 2021, with sixteen countries, including host countries Hungary and Slovenia. Belgium is currently one of the five best numbers two. The four group winners and four runner-ups from that group stage qualify for the actual European Championship, also in Hungary and Slovenia (31 May – 6 June). That European Championship will be finished in a knock-out system. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are spread over Hungary and Slovenia. The final will take place in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana.
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