Kevin De Bruyne unhappy with Belgium showing after defeat against France in Nations League - 'It has to be better'
Updated 10/09/2024 at 14:29 GMT+1
Kevin De Bruyne was not happy with his Belgium team-mates following their UEFA Nations League defeat against France. The Manchester City midfielder labelled elements of their performance in the 2-0 loss as 'unacceptable', insisting players must do their jobs following a decrease in available talent since the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where Belgium reached the semi-finals.
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Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his unhappiness with his Belgium side after their 2-0 defeat in the UEFA Nations League against France, insisting that the performance was "unacceptable".
Kolo Muani gave Les Bleus the lead in the 29th minute before Ousmane Dembele doubled their advantage after half-time.
France had 25 shots on goal compared to Belgium's eight, with De Bruyne's side mustering just four on target.
The Manchester City midfielder did not mince his words following the match, telling Belgian VTM television that he could not repeat what he said to his teammates in public.
“I can’t say here what went wrong," he said. "I already did that to the team at half-time.
“I cannot repeat that in the media, but it has to be better in every way.
"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.
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"If you don’t even do that, it’s over."
De Bruyne was part of the Belgium squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
That squad featured the likes of Vincent Kompany, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku, but Belgium are currently in a state of transition with a host of fresh faces included in the squad for the recent international break.
De Bruyne said he can accept the squad is not as talented as they were in 2018, but that people still have to do their jobs.
“I can accept that we’re not as good as in 2018," he added.
“I was the first to see that, but other things are unacceptable. I’m not going to say what. We are too many at the back.
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"If you stay with six at the back, there is no connection.
"It is what it is. It is not about transition, but about people who do not perform their tasks.”
The result leaves Belgium in third place in League A Group 2, level on points with France but three behind Italy.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco defended De Bruyne, saying his reaction reflected his winning mentality.
He added: "He is our captain and has a huge winning mentality, so he can also react emotionally."
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