Baby boom among Belgian Red Devils

Thibaut Courtois, 22, recently announced that he and his Spanish girlfriend Marta Dominguez are expecting their first child in June. Belgium’s goalkeeper is not the only Red Devil to become a father for the first time this year. After Benteke, Dembélé and soon Witsel, Courtois (pictured) is the fourth player on the team to have a child in the year after the World Cup.

Axel Witsel is expecting a daughter, Mai-Li, next week with girlfriend Rafaella, whose due date is 31 March, the same day the Red Devils are scheduled to compete against Israel. "We will do everything in our power to make sure the baby does not come before 1 April,” Witsel told La Dernière Heure. “I do not want to miss the birth."

Witsel discussed the impending birth with trainer Marc Wilmots. "We talked about it indeed," said Wilmots. "It is obviously a very important moment in his life. It should be clear that he will play in Israel, no matter what happens."