Belgian training session canceled after Brussels attacks

Belgian coach Marc Wilmots canceled the training session that had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The decision followed the news of two attacks in Brussels earlier in the day, which left several people dead and many others wounded.

The news of the decision to cancel the session was announced via the Belgian national team's official Twitter account.

Several of the national team's players, including Chelsea goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, also used Twitter to express their condolences to the victims and their families.

The Belgian side, which currently sits top of the FIFA world rankings, usually attract large crowds to their home training sessions and the public are encouraged to attend.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the attacks could affect plans for next Tuesday's friendly against Portugal in Brussels. The Belgian national team's last scheduled international, against Spain on November 17 in Brussels, was canceled following the attacks in Paris.

'Difficult situation' for German players too

Also cancelled on that evening was a friendly between Germany and the Netherlands in Hanover. Germany were playing a friendly against France at the Stade de France on November 13 when the Paris attacks occurred. Large explosions were audible inside the stadium during the match.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Berlin for Saturday's friendly against England, Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff told reporters that the Brussels attacks "will definitely be an issue that will on the players' minds in the wake of the Paris events."

"It is a difficult situation. We will certainly have to [speak] with the players about the current events. Each individual deals with it differently."

pfd/dv (dpa, AP, Reuters)