Poor performances and hatred simmering between the team’s biggest stars. Belgium’s silver position in the FIFA ranking already belongs entirely to the statistics, actually awaits De Bruyne and co. tough battle with Croatia for promotion from the World Cup group.
Belgian football teams are going through a difficult period at the World Cup in Qatar. They will have to beat vice world champions Croatia on Thursday, just three points will give them the certainty of qualifying for the round of 16 of the championship.
Until then, however, he has to refute speculation that the team is divided, and after the match lost to Morocco, there was even a fight between the players in the booth.
According to the girlfriend of one of the representatives, there was a fight between three footballers in the dressing room of Al Thumama Stadium after Monday’s match. They had to face Kevin dand Manchester City’s Bruyne, former Chelsea ace Eden Hazard and former Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen. Their heated argument reportedly got so heated that giant Romelu Lukaku had to separate them.
“It’s just lies. Things that don’t even exist. The main problem is reading such rumors on social networks or in the media,” goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said at a press conference a day later.
Even Hazard himself tried to defuse the atmosphere in the team. “Nothing happened in the locker room. Only coach Roberto Martínez spoke,” added the 31-year-old midfielder.
Both players then added some classic phrases in the style of saying all to each other in the booth and that if they go back to their game, Belgium has a chance to progress. “I didn’t think there were any problems,” Courtois also said.
But it has long been evident that there are no ideal ratios in the Belgian cabin. After the first match against Canada (1:0), it was unusually open about De Bruyne’s march.
“We have no chance. We are too old,” he replied when asked if the Belgians can attack the top positions again after their quarter-finals in 2014 and their World Cup bronze in Russia four years ago.
In an interview with The Guardian, manager Martínez, with whom the Manchester City star has also confronted several times in the past, denied that the team were distracted by De Bruyne’s words. However, on Monday he admitted that there is a negative atmosphere among the players.
However, defender Vertonghen was a little more addressable. “We’re probably also attacking badly because we’re too old. That should be clear by now, right?” Vertonghen bypasses De Bruyne, who should be the main engine of the Belgian offensive.
“There are so many things going through my head right now that I shouldn’t be airing. I don’t think we created chances. Where did the mistake happen?” she continued.
The 31-year-old midfielder caught it not only from Vertonghen, but also from journalists. Belgian newspaper De Standaard, for example, said that “his attitude shows little collegiality and empathy. De Bruyne’s inability to deliver a quality performance is worrying. KDB exudes little joy in life, his tendency to argue rather that focus on the game was a clear example in the Canada game.”
The Lijnen affair
According to the media, however, it’s not just about quarrels on the field, but the mutual animosity of some stars arises from privacy. German broadcaster RTL has provided information that the Belgian club is on the verge of implosion and one reason is that De Bruyne has not spoken to Courtois since 2014.
At that time, the current Real Madrid goalkeeper was expected to take girlfriend Caroline Lijnen from his international mate. She later confirmed the relationship herself, saying it was a kind of revenge after De Bruyne confessed to cheating on her with her best friend.
According to German television, relations are not only broken between Courtois and De Bruyne, but also between Eden Hazard and Leandre Trossard, and not even forwards Romelu Lukaku and Michy Batshuayi speak to each other.
Coach Martínez will therefore have to prove himself not only as a quality strategist, but above all as a capable psychologist before the key duel with the Croatians.
