Belgium have sent their standby defender Laurent Ciman home, the decision shows confidence in the fitness of captain Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen ahead of their World Cup opener against Panama on Monday. Coach Roberto Martinez will now hope veterans Kompany and Vermaelen do not suffer recurrences of the injuries that disrupted their World Cup preparation.
Manchester City’s Kompany injured his groin in a pre-tournament friendly against Portugal, while Barcelona’s Vermaelen suffered a hamstring problem last month. Los Angeles FC defender Ciman, had been training with Belgium in Russia in case Kompany or Vermaelen failed fitness tests. The coach can also call upon Tottenham Hotspur pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, as well as Celtic’s Dedryck Boyata, in central defence.