Belgium 'loan' unknown player for World Cup training after manager request
Belgium have 'loaned' an unknown player for World Cup training following a demand from manager Rudi Garcia.
After friendly wins over Croatia and Tunisia, the Red Devils are gearing up for their first fixture at the World Cup when they take on Egypt on Monday 15 June.
Belgium are basing themselves in Seattle, Washington for the showpiece, training at the Performance Centre and Clubhouse belonging to MLS side Seattle Sounders.
Rudi Garcia's men have been enjoying the facilities prior to playing at Sounders' Lumen Field stadium for their opener.
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And the partnership with Sounders has already proved fruitful for Belgium as they were able to borrow a player from 'The Rave Green'.
As reported by Sporza, Belgium drafted in rookie goalkeeper Max Anchor to assist with training.
Garcia is said to have wanted a fourth goalkeeper to make training matches work better with even numbers.
This approach has been used by both England and Germany, with the latter even including Jonas Urbig in their World Cup squad photo despite him not being eligible to play.
Belgium were looking to use Maarten Vandevoordt in the same role but it's claimed RB Leipzig refused to him for the World Cup.
Vandevoordt, the youngest goalkeeper in Champions League history after a debut against Napoli as a 17-year-old in 2019, is set for a big season with the Bundesliga side next term.
However, the opportunity in Belgium training then went to a 21-year-old Canadian Max Anchor, who became the fourth goalkeeper.
Anchor is Sounders' third-choice goalkeeper and has only played one game in his professional career - for Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
He had the incredible experience of testing himself against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku.
Other goalkeepers in the Sounders ranks are poised to be afforded the same opportunity over the course of the World Cup.
Topics: Belgium
Josh Lawless