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Soccer brings 'normality' to fans amidst pandemic, Belgian coach Martinez says.

25-Aug-2020 14:42:25 | Yahoo Sports

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT VIDEO SHOWS: BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE RED DEVILS LINE-UP AT THE UPCOMING UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE / MARTINEZ SPEAKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SOCCER, ABOUT INTER MILAN STRIKER ROMELU LUKAKU AND NEW RSC ANDERLECHT COACH VINCENT KOMPANY SHOWS: TUBIZE, BELGIUM (AUGUST 25, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER FEDERATION COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR, MANU LEROY, PROXIMUS EXECUTIVE JIM CASTEELE, BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ, BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH -21 JACKY MATHIJSEN, BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER FEDERATION SPOKESPERSON STEFAN VAN LOOCK ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE 2. MARTINEZ WEARING FACE MASKS WITH BELGIAN FLAG PRINTED ON IT 3. NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "You can understand we have got a common enemy. In other camps, everything is about football. In this case, we got a virus that is not just threatening football clubs and federations it's threatening society and every one of us so there are concerns, there are worries, there are doubts and that's what we do now. "We need to bring a bit of common sense and help each other because we need football on the pitch. I think it helps every one in football and it helps people, it helps fans and it tries to give a little bit of a new normality. Then there are challenges, yes, and clubs feel worried and we're gonna try to work in the same way that we do: with cooperation, with a bit of common sense and we try to find a good compromise in the middle." 5. MARTINEZ SEATED 6. CAMERAMEN 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "I think September for us is going to be really different. September, you got places that are on holidays but they had such a long season due to the fact that the new format of the Champions League and the European League. And I think that's a big advantage and a good opportunity for us to see players that are already playing games in the league. "In that case, Belgium gives us a good opportunity. We're going to be facing Denmark. And I think that match fitness is important to bring into this squad. And what a better opportunity to do it with young, talented players that we feel they got enormous future. And I think that will be a great experience to carry on the good work that we have been doing in the young age of age group at club level." 8. CAMERAMEN AND JOURNALISTS 9. MARTINEZ AT NEWS CONFERENCE 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "You know that (Inter Milan Striker) Romelu Lukaku is a winner. He's had an exceptional season and in football sometimes you get that unfair feeling that the last game makes you feel very different to what is done. I think Romelu went to Italy and has equalled a record that I never thought was going to be touched, which (former Brazilian national team striker) Ronaldo for Inter Milan - to score the amount of goals that he's done: 34 goals in a season. The amount of football and the leadership and the maturity that he's shown is very positive. Of course, when you go into a final, the only way to go through it with a positive attitude is winning it and I think Romelu is just getting that hurt and using it to try to reset his goals so I look forward to move finals ahead." 11. JOURNALIST 12. BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER FEDERATION LOGO APPEARING ON SCREEN 13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BELGIUM NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM COACH, ROBERTO MARTINEZ, SAYING: "We are very grateful to what (Former Manchester City captain and Belgian national soccer team player) Vincent Kompany has done and I treasure the memory of working with him especially in the World Cup 2018. Remember that he played five full games in a very short period of time and his influence's always been extreme professionalism and we wish him well (for) the next chapters of his career as a coach, I am sure that it will be a real success. It's just life. You cannot have players for 100 years unfortunately." 14. LEROY, CASTEELE, MARTINEZ, MATHIJSEN AND VAN LOOCK ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE 15. LEROY, CASTEELE, MARTINEZ, MATHIJSEN AND VAN LOOCK LEAVING STORY: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said on Tuesday (August 25) that everyone in soccer must work together to beat the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at a press conference announcing his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches, the Spaniard said that seeing matches being played brings a little normality into peoples lives after months of lockdown. On the playing front, Martinez called-up 18-year-old Jeremy Doku and Anderlecht strike partner Landry Dimata for the first time as he named a 29-man squad for the start of the Nations League next month. It also includes seven players from Premier League clubs despite fears that COVID-19 quarantine regulations might stymie their selection for the games against Denmark and Iceland. Last week, Belgium's FA president Mehdi Bayat expressed concern that players at English clubs would not travel to the Belgian training centre at Tubize because they would face 14 days quarantine on return to Britain. However, professional footballers have since been granted exemptions. Belgium, who are top of the FIFA rankings, will be looking to extend a run of 10 straight wins when they take on Denmark in Copenhagen on Sept. 5 and Iceland in Brussels three days later. England are the other team in Nations League A Group 2. Squad: Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge), Hendrik Van Crombrugge (Anderlecht) Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin), Timothy Castagne (Atalanta), Elias Cobbaut (Anderlecht), Jason Denayer (Olympique Lyonnais), Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica) Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Nacer Chadli (Monaco), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund), Dennis Praet (Leicester City), Youri Tielemans (Leicester City), Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Yari Verschaeren (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Borussia Dortmund) Forwards: Landry Dimata, Jeremy Doku (both Anderlecht), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Divock Origi (Liverpool) (Production: Christian Levaux/Bart Biesemans/Clement Rossignol)