Montreal Impact defender Laurent Ciman will be a serious candidate to start Belgium’s UEFA Euro quarterfinal match against Wales on Friday, as the Red Devils will be without a pair of regular defenders due to injury and suspension.
Belgium left back Jan Vertonghen suffered an ankle injury in training on Thursday and will miss Friday’s match. He’ll join suspended center back Thomas Vermaelen in the stands. Both players had played every minute of Belgium’s previous four matches in France.
A center back for Montreal and the reigning MLS Defender of the Year, Ciman started Belgium’s opening game loss to Italy at right back. He hasn’t appeared in the tournament since, but could be a candidate to fill-in for either Vertonghen or Vermaelen.
Jason Denayer and Jordan Lukaku are also possibilities for Belgium manager Marc Wilmots.
Should he get the nod, one of Ciman’s main tasks will be to deal with Wales’ star attacker Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid winger is currently tied for the tournament lead with three goals in four matches.
