Belgium coach Mark van Bommel has explained why Senne Lammens is not yet playing regularly for the national team, despite the goalkeeper continuing to attract attention with his performances at club level.
Lammens is regarded as one of the promising young goalkeepers in Belgian football and has already earned a place in the senior national-team setup. However, Van Bommel has made it clear that being selected for Belgium does not automatically mean a player will immediately become the first-choice option.
The Belgian coach has taken a careful approach to the goalkeeper position since taking charge of the national team, with competition for places remaining intense.
Lammens was included in Van Bommel’s first Belgium squad and arrived at the national-team camp alongside other goalkeepers including Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt and Jari De Busser. The Belgian FA confirmed Lammens’ arrival as part of the 28-man squad for the September international window.
His inclusion was significant because it demonstrated that Van Bommel considers him part of Belgium’s future.
However, the coach has also stressed that international football requires more than potential. A goalkeeper has to demonstrate consistency, maturity and the ability to handle the pressure of representing one of Europe’s major football nations before becoming an automatic starter.
That appears to be the situation surrounding Lammens.
The goalkeeper has plenty of time to establish himself, but Van Bommel does not want to rush the process simply because supporters are excited about his potential.
Belgium are currently undergoing a period of transition following the departure of Rudi Garcia. Van Bommel was appointed as the new head coach in July 2026 on a contract running through Euro 2028, with the Belgian Football Association describing his project as one based on discipline, ambition and courage.
The change in coaching staff has also created opportunities for younger players.
Lammens is one of those players.
Rather than immediately handing him the number-one position, Van Bommel appears to be assessing the goalkeeping options available to him while gradually introducing younger talent into the squad.
The situation is particularly complicated because Belgium still have experienced goalkeepers available.
Thibaut Courtois remains an established world-class goalkeeper, although he agreed with Van Bommel to sit out the Nations League campaign. Van Bommel said Courtois remains at a world-class level while acknowledging the goalkeeper’s decision to take a break from international duty.
That means the current competition is not simply about Lammens replacing an ageing goalkeeper. Belgium have several players who are also trying to establish themselves as the long-term successor to Courtois.
For Lammens, that makes patience extremely important.
The 24-year-old has already been recognised at international level. UEFA’s current records list him among Belgium’s goalkeepers and credit him with an appearance in the European qualifying campaign.
That appearance demonstrates that the door is certainly open.
But Van Bommel’s selection decisions suggest that he wants Lammens to continue developing before giving him complete responsibility for the national team.
Goalkeeping is different from many other positions because mistakes can have an immediate and decisive impact on a match.
A young midfielder can lose possession and still have several opportunities to recover. A goalkeeper making one major mistake can concede a goal and potentially change the entire outcome of a game.
That is why coaches often prefer to introduce young goalkeepers gradually.
Van Bommel has also shown that he is willing to make difficult decisions based on circumstances rather than reputation.
His handling of other senior players demonstrates that selection is not guaranteed. For example, he recently explained that Romelu Lukaku’s limited involvement was connected to tactical considerations and the striker’s current situation rather than a permanent decision to exclude him.
The same principle can apply to Lammens.
Being selected for the squad is already an important step, but becoming Belgium’s first-choice goalkeeper requires another level of consistency.
Lammens will therefore have to continue proving himself at club level.
His performances week after week will be crucial because Van Bommel will want evidence that the goalkeeper can maintain concentration, deal with pressure and perform consistently before making him a permanent fixture in the starting XI.
The Belgian coach also has to consider the balance between experience and youth.
Belgium have several experienced players who remain important to the national team, including Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku. At the same time, younger players are being introduced as the country prepares for the next generation of the Red Devils.
Lammens fits naturally into that transition.
He is young enough to potentially become Belgium’s long-term goalkeeper but experienced enough to already be involved with the senior squad.
The important point is that Van Bommel does not appear to have closed the door on him.
Instead, the goalkeeper is being developed within the national-team environment while competing for a starting position.
That could eventually work in Lammens’ favour.
Training alongside experienced international players can help him understand the demands of senior international football. Working with Belgium’s goalkeeping staff can also allow him to improve areas of his game that may determine whether he eventually becomes the country’s number one.
There is also the question of timing.
Belgium are currently competing in the Nations League, and their schedule has been extremely demanding. Their group includes France, Italy and Türkiye, meaning Van Bommel is facing high-pressure matches almost immediately after taking charge. UEFA described the group as one containing several major fixtures, with Belgium facing France twice during the opening stages.
In such circumstances, a coach may understandably prefer to introduce young players carefully rather than place unnecessary pressure on them.
Belgium’s recent 4–1 defeat to France demonstrated how difficult the current Nations League campaign can be. Belgium initially led through Dodi Lukebakio before France produced a late comeback through Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise.
For Lammens, matches of that intensity could eventually provide valuable experience.
But Van Bommel will want the goalkeeper to be ready before giving him a major role.
That is why supporters should not interpret Lammens’ absence from the starting lineup as a sign that the coach does not believe in him.
Quite the opposite.
His continued presence in the squad shows that he remains part of the national team’s plans.
The challenge now is for Lammens to turn potential into consistency.
If he continues performing well at club level and demonstrates that he can handle pressure, his chances of becoming Belgium’s first-choice goalkeeper will naturally increase.
The future of Belgian goalkeeping could therefore belong to Lammens, but Van Bommel appears determined to make sure the transition happens at the right time.
For now, the message is clear: Lammens has been given the opportunity to learn, compete and develop within the senior squad, but he still has to earn the right to become Belgium’s undisputed number one.
And with Courtois’ international future still evolving, the competition for the position could become one of the most interesting selection battles in Belgian football over the next few years.