Roberto Martinez unapologetic for prizing Anthony Barry away from Ireland

Both Martinez and captain Youri Tielemans were asked about the inpact so far of Barry, the set-piece specialist lured from Stephen Kenny’s backroom staff to the Belgians

25 March 2022; Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, third from left, with assistant coaches, from left, Anthony Barry, Thomas Vermaelen and Thierry Henry during a Belgium training session at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Belgium’s stand-in captain Youri Tielemans insists Belgium’s expectation of victory over Ireland isn’t compromised by their experimental approach to Saturday’s friendly.

Roberto Martinez is concerned that his policy of excluding players with 50 or more caps – such as Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku – triggers results which costs them their status as Fifa’s top ranked nations.