Belgium’s 0-2 defeat to France in their UEFA Nations League match has ignited tensions within the Red Devils squad, with captain Kevin De Bruyne at the center of the controversy. Following the loss, De Bruyne voiced sharp criticisms, targeting both his teammates and head coach Domenico Tedesco for their lacklustre performance and tactics.
Kevin De Bruyne has spoken out following Belgium's defeat at the hands of France! #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/f3UOYe6sHm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 10, 2024
In his post-match interview, the Manchester City midfielder didn’t hold back, saying, “When you’re not good enough for the top, you have to give your all, and I didn’t even see that. I can accept that we’re not as good as we were in 2018, I’m the first to say that, but I can’t tolerate the way we played tonight.” De Bruyne also expressed his frustration with the overly defensive approach adopted by the Belgian side, questioning the team’s current ability to compete at the highest level.
When asked for his response, Tedesco acknowledged De Bruyne’s frustration, noting, “Kevin is our captain and has a huge winning mentality. He’s emotional and disappointed, and that’s fine. I haven’t spoken to him yet. That will happen.”
This incident follows another recent controversy in the Belgian camp, with Thibaut Courtois declaring that he would not play for Belgium under Tedesco, highlighting further unrest within the national team. The Belgian side is clearly facing internal challenges, as their key players express concerns over the team’s direction under Tedesco’s management.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Italian coach faces the sack, given Belgium’s poor run of form, with just two wins in their last six matches. Both victories came against lower-ranked teams like Romania and Israel, far below the level expected of a squad with Belgium’s talent.