Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan axed

Belgium has left midfield creator Radja Nainggolan out of its World Cup squad, coach Roberto Martinez said on Monday. That , who scored twice for Roma in the second league of the Champions League semifinal against Liverpool this month, was the biggest surprise in the 28-player list that will be reduced to 23 before the tournament.

Belgium faces England, Panama and Tunisia in Group G at the World Cup.

The heavily tattooed 30-year-old has played 30 times for his country and is popular with supporters, but his relationship with Martinez has often been strained.

Martinez The Spanish former Everton manager said: “It was a sad and difficult decision. He is a player with a lot of class and he was voted Roma’s best player, but I’ve made my decision for purely tactical reasons.”

“I have put in place a specific system that works. I can’t use Radja in a secondary role.”

Martinez said he had travelled to Rome to explain his choice to the player.

In Nainggolan’s place, Martinez has picked 21-year-old Youri Tielemans, who has had a low-key season at French club Monaco.

The squad: Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Matz Sels.

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Dedryck Boyata, Laurent Ciman, Leander Dendoncker, Christian Kabasele, Vincent Kompany, Jordan Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen.

Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco, Nacer Chadli, Kevin de Bruyne, Mousa Dembele, Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj, Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel.

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Christian Benteke, Eden Hazard, Thorgan Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens.