Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ third in the 2018 World Cup, it turns off at forced speeds. Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen ‘they hung up their boots’, Toby Alderweireld He withdrew from the national team Thibaut Courtois He said ‘no’ to the Euro to focus on his recovery, Dries Mertens It did not enter the list due to a technical decision… and Romelu Lukaku, who is there, continues to be cursed.
However, there is an ember that remains alive and does not go out: Kevin de Bruyne. And at the beginning of the course he had to undergo surgery due to his continuous hamstring problems. “I don’t know when I’ll play football again”he came to recognize.
Belgium 0-1 Slovakia: summary and best plays | Euro Cup (J1)
It reappeared in January and, even so, He had time to close the course with six goals and 18 assists. “It gets better with age, like a good wine. It’s like a Brunello di Montalcino or a Sassicaia,” Guardiola joked.
It improves with age, like good wine. It’s like a Brunello di Montalcino or a Sassicaia
‘Tíntin’, as he was nicknamed, came to the rescue of Belgium when his country needed him most. The defeat against Slovakia (0-1) in the debut left the ‘red devils’ on the ropes. Against Romania it was win or win. There was no other. And so it was 2-0, with a goal from ‘KDB’,to make the group red hot: for the first time in the history of the Euro Cup The four teams reach the last day tied on three points. Anyone can pass. There is even talk of a possible ‘biscotto’ between Romania and Slovakia.
Be that as it may, De Bruyne, at 32 years old, ‘pulled the wagon’ by completing a sublime game, beyond the goal. He did everything and (almost) everything well. He was the player who took the most shots (5), the one who filtered the most passes in the final third (23), the one who completed the most dribbles (3), the one who won the most duels (12), the one who made the most tackles (tackles ) made (4) and the one who received the most fouls (4). He only needed to make one stop.
Belgium 2-0 Romania: summary and goals | Euro Cup (J2)
It is not surprising, logically, that they gave him the ‘MVP’. The role of leader, without Courtois, does not scare him: “We have a new team, with many young people. “I’m getting older and I want to show in my last years with Belgium how to behave as a player and as a leader.”
I am getting older and I want to show in my last years with Belgium how to behave as a player and as a leader
In any case, it ‘took the edge off’ the victory: “We played well, better than against Slovakia, and we deserved to win. Even so, we gave away opportunities and we should have been more effective.”
Now they will play ‘heads or tails’ against Ukraine. “We knew what we had to do and we did it. Now we are going to rest and prepare for the third game,” said the City playmaker. With De Bruyne plugged in, everything will be easier. It’s still gold. Of pure gold.
