You won’t BELIEVE which Rangers star just got the ultimate international promotion

There are call-ups that surprise nobody and call-ups that feel like the natural end of a long campaign, and Nico Raskin’s first senior Belgium selection belonged firmly in the second group. The Rangers midfielder, once a promising talent at Standard Liege and now a key figure in Glasgow, saw his name appear on the national team list for the very first time, and the manager responsible, Rudi Garcia, was quick to explain why. The promotion arrived at a moment when Raskin had just produced some of the best football of his career on the European stage, and the timing made the decision look less like a gamble and more like a reward.

Garcia, the former Lyon, Marseille and Roma boss, had only recently taken charge of Belgium and unveiled his first major squad on a Friday for the Nations League double-header with Ukraine during the March international break. A new manager arriving at a national team usually brings new ideas about who deserves a place, and he is under little obligation to follow the old pecking order. Garcia used that freedom to pick a squad that included Raskin among its fresh faces, and in doing so he sent a message that form and recent performance would count for more than reputation. For a player who had spent months hoping for exactly this chance, it was a moment of real vindication.

The story of Raskin’s desire to play for Belgium goes back to early February, when he spoke openly about how badly he wanted to represent his country at senior level. That kind of ambition is common among young footballers, but few express it so clearly while they are still waiting for a call. His comments set up a simple narrative, a midfielder who believed he was good enough and who was determined to prove it with performances, and the weeks that followed gave him plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. The call-up therefore felt like the completion of a story that he himself had started.

One of the most persuasive arguments for his inclusion was the example of another Belgian playing in Scotland. Arne Engels, the creative midfielder who joined Celtic from Augsburg for a reported £11 million the previous summer, had earned his Belgium debut shortly after moving to Glasgow. If a player could break into the national squad while based in the Scottish Premiership, the logic went, then there was no reason why Raskin could not do the same. The comparison is a useful one, because it shows that Scottish football, for all the criticism of its standard, can still be a platform for players who want international recognition. It also added a pleasing symmetry to the Old Firm rivalry, with both clubs now providing members of the Belgian squad.

The call-up came at the end of a stretch in which Raskin had been doing everything right. He scored in front of the Belgian media as Rangers beat Union Saint-Gilloise, a result that set up a Europa League last-16 tie against Fenerbahce. The goal came against a Belgian side, in a stadium full of Belgian journalists and followers of the national team, which could hardly have been better timing for a player who wanted to be noticed. It is not often that a footballer can make his case so directly, and Raskin did it in the most effective way possible, by scoring and contributing in front of exactly the people whose opinions mattered.

His performances against bigger names added further weight to the argument. He was described as brilliant against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the continental competition, the kind of opposition that tests a midfielder’s ability to handle pace, pressure and quality. Playing well against English sides in front of large audiences is a useful indicator of whether a player is ready for the demands of international football, because the intensity and the technical level are close to what he would face with his national team. Raskin appears to have passed those tests with ease, and each good display built a stronger case for a place in the squad.

The match that probably sealed it came in the last-16 tie against Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho. Raskin was described as unbelievable over the two legs as Rangers secured a place in the Europa League quarter-finals at the expense of the Portuguese coach’s side. Beating a Mourinho team over two matches is a significant achievement for any club, and the midfielder’s contribution was central to it. He was a combative, energetic presence in the middle of the pitch, helping his team to control the tempo, win the ball back and move forward with purpose. For a national team coach looking for a midfielder with those qualities, it was a very strong audition.

His father also added a voice to the debate, saying that Nico deserved a chance when the new manager picked his first squad. Parents are naturally biased, of course, but the comment reflected a wider feeling among those who had watched his progress, and it did not look out of place given the evidence. When the squad was finally revealed and his name was on the list for the first time, the sentiment that he had earned the opportunity seemed to be widely shared. The reaction was that of a player and a family who had waited patiently and were now being rewarded.

There is a further angle in the way the call-up was described as seeing the Rangers midfielder leapfrog a star valued at around £50 million. Without needing to name the player concerned, the point is that Garcia chose Raskin over a more expensive and more highly rated alternative, and that kind of decision reveals a lot about how a coach thinks. Market value and reputation can be misleading, and a manager who prefers recent form and suitability for his system is likely to build a more balanced and motivated squad. Raskin may not have the transfer price of some of his rivals, but he has shown that he can perform on the big stage, and that mattered more to the manager.

Garcia’s explanation for the selection, as reported, centred on the idea that he had watched Raskin closely and liked what he saw. That is a simple message but an important one, because it tells other players that they are being watched and that the door is open to anyone who performs. New national team managers often face criticism for sticking to familiar faces, and Garcia’s willingness to pick a Scottish-based midfielder suggests a more open-minded approach. It also fits with a manager who has experience of building teams at big clubs and who understands the value of energy and tactical intelligence in the middle of the park

Raskin’s qualities as a player help explain why he fits that approach. He is a small, quick and technically neat midfielder who works hard without the ball and is comfortable receiving it under pressure. At Rangers, he has shown an ability to cover a lot of ground, to link defence with attack and to make timely tackles, and those skills are exactly the ones that international coaches look for in a midfield. His time at Standard Liege gave him a solid grounding in Belgian football, and the move to Scotland added the physical and mental toughness that comes with playing in high-pressure matches. The combination makes him a versatile option who can adapt to different roles.

The step from club football to the international stage is not always easy. The rhythm is different, the training time is limited and the pressure to make an immediate impression is high. Players who are called up for the first time often have to adjust quickly to new teammates, new tactical instructions and a different style of play. Raskin, however, has already shown that he can handle big occasions, and his European performances suggest that he has the temperament for it. The challenge will be to bring the same confidence to a squad full of unfamiliar faces and to show that his club form is not a one-off.

Belgium themselves were in a transitional period. The golden generation that had reached the top of the world rankings and finished third at the 2018 World Cup had begun to age, and the team needed fresh energy and new ideas. A new manager, a revised squad and a competitive Nations League fixture against Ukraine formed the backdrop to Raskin’s call-up. In that setting, a young midfielder who was playing well and eager to prove himself was exactly the kind of addition that could help. The selection can be read as part of a wider effort to refresh the group and to give younger players a chance to establish themselves.

The tie with Ukraine added extra interest. A two-legged contest in the Nations League is a serious test, with stakes that go beyond a normal friendly, and managers tend to pick players they trust to cope with the pressure. By including Raskin, Garcia was showing a degree of faith in his ability, and the midfielder would know that he had been picked for a real match rather than a gentle exhibition. That can be a powerful motivator, because it gives a player a clear sense that he is wanted and that his contribution could matter. For Raskin, the possibility of making his debut in such a game was a genuine prize.

For Rangers, the news was a source of pride and a minor logistical concern. Supporters naturally enjoy seeing one of their players recognised at international level, and it reflects well on the club that a midfielder has progressed so quickly. At the same time, a busy period for the team, with a European quarter-final to prepare for, meant that the club would want him to return fit and focused. International breaks always carry the risk of travel fatigue and injury, but most managers accept that as part of the deal. The benefit of having a confident, motivated player who has been given a new level of recognition can outweigh those concerns.

The wider significance of the story is that it underlines the growing visibility of Scottish football’s best players. Celtic’s Engels and Rangers’ Raskin both ended up in the Belgian squad within a few months of each other, which suggests that national selectors are paying closer attention to what happens in Glasgow. European nights at Ibrox and Celtic Park have helped, because they give players a chance to be seen against top opposition. A midfielder who shines against Tottenham, Manchester United and Fenerbahce is far harder to ignore than one who only plays in domestic matches, and the clubs’ European runs have been a powerful shop window.

There is also a human side to the story that deserves mention. Raskin spoke publicly about his dream of playing for Belgium, and that dream was now close to coming true. Young players who work hard and wait patiently often feel the weight of their ambitions, and seeing their names on a squad list for the first time is a moment of enormous emotion. It rewards years of effort, sacrifice and belief, and it often inspires further improvement. For a player who had moved to a new country and adapted to a new league, the call-up was a validation of that decision.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed. A call-up is an opportunity, not a promise, and the next step is to make the most of it. Raskin would need to impress in training, show tactical understanding and take any chance he was given on the pitch. The competition for places in a national squad is intense, and there is little room for those who fail to deliver. The advantage he has is that he arrives with momentum and confidence, having just helped his club to a significant European victory. If he can carry that over, he could establish himself as a regular part of the setup.

Garcia’s own position is worth considering as well. A new manager is judged on early results, and the Nations League tie against Ukraine represented an important early test. Choosing players who are in form and who bring a positive attitude is a sensible way to improve the odds of success. By picking Raskin, he showed that he is willing to back a player who has earned his chance, and if the midfielder performs well, the decision will look astute. The relationship between a manager and his squad is built on trust, and giving a first call to a deserving player is a good way to start building it.

Looking back on the sequence of events, it is hard to avoid the impression that everything lined up neatly for Raskin. He expressed his ambition in February, he scored in front of the Belgian media in the last-16 build-up, he shone against some of the biggest names in European football and he helped to knock out Mourinho’s side. Each step added to the case, and by the time the squad was announced the decision looked almost inevitable. That is the way many of the best selections work, with a steady accumulation of evidence until the manager has no reason to leave a player out.

The story also says something about the role that English-language and Scottish media play in shaping the debate. The framing of the call-up, including the references to Engels and to a player worth £50 million, reflects a desire to place the selection in a broader context of how Scottish-based players are perceived. It highlights the idea that talent in Scotland can be underrated and that performances in Europe can change that perception quickly. Whether or not one agrees with every comparison, the underlying point about the value of consistent top-level performances is a fair one.

Another aspect is how the call-up fits into the career arc of the player himself. Raskin joined Rangers from Standard Liege with the aim of testing himself at a bigger club and in a more demanding environment. The step to the national team is a natural progression, and it brings new challenges and new rewards. Players who make that transition successfully often find that their club form also improves, because the extra confidence and recognition feed back into their performances. If Raskin can do the same, both Rangers and Belgium may benefit from the promotion.

In the end, the explanation behind the call-up is as simple as it is convincing. A midfielder played brilliantly over two legs against a team managed by one of the most famous coaches in football, scored in front of the Belgian media, impressed against English opposition and made no secret of his wish to play for his country. A new manager who watches those performances and picks the player is not taking a risk but rewarding merit. That is the core of the story, and it is the reason the decision felt so right to so many people.

As the squad assembled, the focus naturally shifted to what would happen next. Would Raskin be given a chance to play, how would he fit into the group and could he make himself a permanent fixture? Those questions would be answered in the days that followed, but the central fact remained that the first call had been made. For a midfielder who had worked hard for it and who had earned the praise of those watching, the moment was one to savour, and for Rangers supporters it was a source of pride that one of their own had been recognised on the international stage