Belgium keeping top players back for England game

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Nations League - League A - Group 2 - Belgium v Iceland - King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium - September 8, 2020 Belgium coach Roberto Martinez REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium will rest key players for Sunday’s Nations League meeting against England when they take on the Ivory Coast in a friendly in Brussels, coach Roberto Martinez said on Wednesday.

Toby Alderweireld, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelo Lukaku, Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans and Axel Witsel did not take part in training on Wednesday to keep them fresh for the Nations League clash at Wembley and next Wednesday’s match against Iceland in Reykjavik.