The Belgian national team will be without one of its biggest stars, Sam Deroo, for today's friendly match against Olympic champion France in Beveren.
The outside hitter was not included in the "Red Dragons'" squad for the friendly, even though he is on Belgium's extended roster for the Volleyball Nations League, which was submitted in advance to the FIVB.
As is known, all national teams announce a broader squad for the tournament, and subsequently, for each individual week and specific matches, a group of 12 to 14 volleyball players is determined. Precisely for this reason, Deroo's absence from the friendly against France does not mean he is out of the coach's long-term plans.
Nevertheless, it is entirely possible that the Belgian star will miss the first week of the VNL, including the match against Bulgaria on June 10 in the city of Brasília.
Simeon Nikolov's former teammate at Russia's Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) spent nearly 9 months battling cancer before returning to the court. This is why the Belgian staff will likely approach his physical workload extremely carefully at the start of the international season.
For Belgium, the main goal this summer is the 2026 European Championship, which further explains the more cautious approach towards one of the team's leaders.
The friendly against France is the last serious test for the Belgians before the start of the VNL, where their first opponent will be Bulgaria.
The Belgian national team will make a historic debut in the Volleyball Nations League in 2026, having secured its spot as the highest-ranked team outside the tournament. The "Red Dragons" replaced the Netherlands, which was relegated from the VNL after finishing last in 2025.