September 10, (THEWILL) – Belgium captain, Kevin De Bruyne, criticised his teammates after their 2-0 defeat to France in a Nations League match on Monday. The 33-year-old Manchester City midfielder expressed his frustration with the team’s performance in their Group A2 clash.
De Bruyne told Belgian VTM television that he had already spoken to the team at half-time about the issues, but refrained from repeating his comments to the media. He emphasised the need for improvement in all aspects of the game, stating that if the team cannot reach the high standards they aim for, they should at least give their all on the pitch.
The Belgian captain acknowledged that the current team might not be at the same level as the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists but found other aspects of their play unacceptable. When pressed, he pointed out a specific tactical issue, saying there were too many players at the back, leading to a lack of connection in the team.
Belgium coach, Domenico Tedesco, responded to De Bruyne’s comments, saying he understood the captain’s emotional reaction due to his strong winning mentality. Despite a lively start from Belgium, France quickly took control of the game, bouncing back from their recent loss to Italy with a comfortable victory.
The defeat has raised questions about Belgium’s tactics and team cohesion, with De Bruyne’s outspoken criticism bringing attention to potential issues within the squad. The team will need to address these concerns if they hope to improve their performance in future Nations League matches.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
