Belgium National Team Confirms Final World Cup Squad with Key Players
Introduction
The Belgian national team has announced its final squad for the 2026 World Cup, which includes experienced veteran players and Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard.
Main Body
Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have both been selected, marking their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. Although they both play for SSC Napoli, their ability to work together at the club level was limited by serious injuries. Specifically, Lukaku suffered a thigh injury and De Bruyne had a hamstring problem between August and October. Consequently, they only played together for six minutes during a single match against Torino on March 6. This lack of recent club experience contrasts with their long international partnership, which began in 2010 and includes 82 matches and 18 goals. Furthermore, the inclusion of Leandro Trossard means that three Arsenal FC players are now confirmed for the tournament, alongside Viktor Gyokeres for Sweden and William Saliba for France. Other Arsenal players may also be selected; reports suggest that Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus are on Brazil's preliminary list of 55 players. Brazil will reduce this list to 26 players on May 18. Meanwhile, Spain and the Netherlands will finalize their squads next week, followed by announcements from Portugal, Norway, Germany, and England.
Conclusion
Belgium has now confirmed its full roster, while several other national teams are expected to finish their selections over the next two weeks.
Learning
🚀 The 'Logic Leap': Moving from Simple to Complex Connections
At A2, you usually connect ideas with and, but, or because. To hit B2, you need Logical Connectors. These are words that tell the reader how two ideas relate, not just that they exist.
🔍 The Analysis
Look at how the text moves from a problem to a result:
*"...their ability to work together at the club level was limited by serious injuries... Consequently, they only played together for six minutes..."
'Consequently' is the B2 upgrade for 'So'. It signals a direct cause-and-effect relationship in a professional, academic way.
🛠️ The B2 Toolset
Instead of using the same basic words, try these swaps found in the text:
| A2 Basic Word | B2 Professional Alternative | Use it when... |
|---|---|---|
| But | Although | You want to show a contrast at the start of a sentence. |
| So | Consequently | One event directly caused the next. |
| Also | Furthermore | You are adding a new, important piece of information. |
💡 Pro-Tip for Fluency
Notice that 'Although' creates a complex sentence: "Although they both play for SSC Napoli, their ability to work together... was limited."
If you start with Although, you don't need but in the middle. This structure is a hallmark of B2 English—it shows you can manage longer, more sophisticated thoughts without getting lost.