Could Cutting Laurent Ciman Backfire On Belgium Boss Roberto Martinez?

Belgium are unlikely to encounter many defensive issues when they face Panama on Monday. It’s the same for when they face Tunisia, while England’s tournament woes means the Red Devils should face few problems in their pursuit of a knockout stage spot. It’s for this reason why Roberto Martinez is likely to have sent Laurent Ciman packing as he culled his 24-man squad to 23.

Ciman was named on the standby list for Belgium in Russia, yet on Saturday was relieved of his duties, with the defender reporting for Los Angeles FC ahead of their upcoming MLS meeting with the Columbus Crew. While one player had to miss out, it’s a huge risk for Martinez to take. With the meeting with Panama looming, the Spaniard is set to be without Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen through injury.

Martinez is a manager who favours a three-man defence, with Kompany flanked by Tottenham pair Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld at the back. It’s a Premier League experienced backline that is the envy of any nation. However, with question marks looming of Kompany’s fitness after being forced off in the pre-World Cup friendly meeting with Portugal and Vermaelen remaining to Moscow rather than travelling to Sochi with the team to continue his rehabilitation for a hamstring injury sustained with Barcelona, it’s a concern for the Red Devils.

Martinez is widely expected to keep with his three-man defence regardless of possible absentees, which should see Dedryck Boyata start at the heart of the backline alongside Vertonghen and Alderweireld and while it’s unlikely to impact Belgium too much against Panama and Tunisia, the further Belgium go, the more worrying Kompany and Vermaelen’s injury issues will be. Boyata’s inclusion in the 23-man squad left some scratching their heads, with the defender enduring an error-prone season for champions Celtic.

Vermaelen will hope to be fit to face Tunisia, while Kompany is targeting a return for the meeting with England, but it’s very much touch and go for the duo and their absence will undoubtedly be Belgium’s loss. Martinez must have the utmost faith in his medical staff and their estimations for the pair to send Ciman back to the US, but it’s still a gamble to wait on the fitness of the pair.

They’ve proved in the past how regularly they succumb to injury. Kompany made just 17 Premier League starts for Manchester City last season, while Vermaelen featured from the off on just 12 occasions in La Liga last term. It’s a huge show of faith in the pair from Martinez, that’s for sure, but a slight knock could prove the end of the tournament for the duo and that would dent Belgium’s chances of lifting the World Cup.

With Ciman, Martinez would have at least had an experienced, versatile defender, who while not playing his trade in one of Europe’s top leagues, has played a big part in LAFC’s fine start to the MLS season. While some may say Boyata is the better of the two defenders, 32-year-old Ciman’s experience on the international stage should have weighed on Martinez’s mind. Of course, it could be that Vermaelen and Kompany make full recoveries and are fine for the remainder of the World Cup, yet it is a risk for Martinez and one that could come back to bite the Spaniard if neither are able to play any part in Russia.