Kevin De Bruyne Urges Belgium To Improve After Defeat To France.
Kevin De Bruyne has called for Belgium to “be better in every way” following their 2-0 defeat to France in the Nations League on Monday. The Manchester City midfielder, visibly frustrated by his team’s performance, admitted to a heated exchange with his team-mates at half-time.
Despite a strong start to the competition with a 3-1 win over Israel, where De Bruyne scored twice, Belgium were outclassed by France. Goals from Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele sealed a comfortable victory for the French side, leaving Belgium searching for answers.
Speaking to Belgian broadcaster VTM after the match, De Bruyne did not hide his disappointment and refused to repeat what he had said to his team-mates at the interval. “I cannot repeat that in the media but it has to be better in every way,” said the 33-year-old captain.
De Bruyne, who played a pivotal role in Belgium’s run to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, acknowledged that the team is no longer at the same level but hinted that some issues were “unacceptable”. However, he stopped short of revealing specific details.
“If the standard we want to reach is the best, but we’re no longer good enough to get to that level, then you have to give everything. If you don’t even do that, it’s over,” he added. The midfielder also expressed frustration with Belgium’s defensive approach, stating, “If you stay with six at the back, there is no connection. It is not about transition, but about people who do not perform their tasks.”
Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco defended De Bruyne’s reaction, citing the player’s strong leadership and competitive spirit. “He is our captain and has a huge winning mentality, so he can also react emotionally,” Tedesco explained.
The defeat leaves Belgium with work to do as they look to bounce back in their upcoming Nations League fixtures. De Bruyne’s rallying cry will likely resonate with the squad, as they seek to rediscover the form that once made them one of the most feared teams in world football.
