De Man the man for Belgium

Belgium have called up RSC Anderlecht defender Mark De Man for the first time for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Poland in Brussels a week tomorrow.

Identical record
The teams have identical records in Group A, with seven points apiece from four games, leaving them three adrift of leaders Serbia and one behind second-placed Finland. As well as the highly regarded 23-year-old De Man, coach René Vandereycken has recalled defender Jelle Van Damme and midfielder Koen Daerden after injury, while forwards Thomas Buffel and Mbo Mpenza, of Rangers FC and Anderlecht respectively, have been left out. Hamburger SV defender Vincent Kompany is absent with a long-term achilles problem.

Belgium squad 
Goalkeepers: Geert De Vlieger (SV Zulte Waregem), Stijn Stijnen (Club Brugge KV), Brian Vandenbussche (SC Heerenveen).

Defenders: Mark De Man (RSC Anderlecht), Carl Hoefkens (Stoke City FC), Philippe Léonard (Feyenoord), Daniel Van Buyten (FC Bayern München), Jelle Van Damme (RSC Anderlecht), Anthony Vanden Borre (RSC Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (AFC Ajax).

Midfielders: Koen Daerden (Club Brugge KV), Gaëtan Englebert (Club Brugge KV), Karel Geraerts (R. Standard de Liège), Bart Goor (RSC Anderlecht), Gaby Mudingayi (S.S. Lazio), Timmy Simons (PSV Eindhoven).

Forwards: Stein Huysegems (Feyenoord), Emile Mpenza (Al Rayyan), Luigi Pieroni (AJ Auxerre), Kevin Vandenbergh (KRC Genk).