Leicester City’s Wout Faes has enjoyed the second half of this calendar year, both with club and country.
The centre-back made his debut for Belgium in June and months later he got a move to the King Power Stadium.
Faes arrived at Leicester from Stade de Reims towards the end of the last transfer window and has impressed for the Foxes this season. He’s helped Brendan Rodgers’ side keep seven clean sheets in their last eight matches.
Earlier this week, the 24-year-old admitted he is in the “best period” of his career and hoped his form for the Premier League side could help him represent De Rode Duivels at the World Cup.
On Thursday, Roberto Martínez announced the Belgium squad, and the Leicester star will be travelling with his national team to Qatar. Following his selection, Faes shared his thoughts to VTM Nieuws, relayed by Het Laatste Nieuws.
“It was a stressful moment, because you never know. But given my performance in the Premier League, I deserve this selection,” Faes said.
On his expectations for the World Cup, the Belgian added: “The World Cup is something unique, even the highest achievable for a football player. I’m going to commit myself 200%. I hope to get a chance in the practice match so that I can show myself.
“And I will also especially enjoy that I belong to this group. A starting place in the first game against Canada? That would be the icing on the cake of an already wonderful 2022.”
The ex-Everton manager has included Faes, Zeno Debast [19] Arthur Theate [22] as the young defenders in his squad. The Spaniard is of the belief the experience will be vital for the trio’s development.
“With Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, it’s a good mix between experience and youth. These young players won’t be the same after having experienced a World Cup. We need the qualities of all these players,” Martínez told RTBF.
