Celtic’s Arne Engels earned his second senior cap for Belgium in their 2-1 defeat to France last night.
Called up once again by national team boss Domenico Tedesco, Engels had to bide his time this international break, having been an unused substitute in his country’s 2-2 stalemate with Italy on Thursday. He finally got his chance against a star-studded French side last night.
Introduced in the 81st minute, Engels was tasked with helping Belgium push for a late equaliser after falling behind 2-1. France, reduced to 10 men after the dismissal of Aurelien Tchouameni, were holding firm.
Despite the man advantage, Belgium couldn’t break through. Engels showed some nice touches in his short cameo, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide, with Belgium succumbing to defeat.
Although his nation lost, the experience will be invaluable for Engels as he continues to develop at the highest level. Earning caps in competitive matches against elite opposition like France will only aid his progress, and Tedesco’s confidence in him speaks volumes.
At just 21 years old, Engels has a long career ahead of him, and this taste of international football will undoubtedly spur him on.
Belgium’s upcoming fixtures will offer further opportunities for the midfielder to showcase his talent on the international stage. For now, though, he’ll take this valuable learning experience back to Celtic and continue to build on what has been a rapid ascent in the European game.
