Kevin De Bruyne Hopes Belgium At Euro 2024 Despite Vulnerable Injuries

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has shown brilliant performance with Manchester City. (photo: x @KevinDeBruyne)

JAKARTA - Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has shown brilliant performance since returning from injury with Manchester City. He played a major role in The Citizen's success in winning the 2024 Premier League title. The Belgian national team hopes this slick performance will continue to Euro 2024.

This 32-year-old player is a tawasman or player who is considered very important and has a major impact on the performance of the team, both club and country. Belgium has high hopes of performing well in tournaments in Germany, despite constant concerns about its physical condition that is prone to injury.

De Bruyne missed the start of the season at City due to a hamstring injury and the last time he defended Belgium more than a year ago, in a friendly match against Germany in March 2023. De Bruyne's return to the national team is highly anticipated because he provides a key experience and a boost to victory. As at his club, he is the creative brain who is given the freedom and responsibility to direct the game on the pitch.

His technical ability, seen from his first touch and accuracy and reach of passing, is complemented by his ability to read the game and make important decisions that change the course of the game. However, keeping De Bruyne fit for the tournament, where Belgium will start their Group E campaign against Slovakia in Frankfurt on June 17, will be a priority.

De Bruyne played with a torn ankle ligament as Belgium were knocked out of Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, and injuries were considered to be the cause of their defeat. Belgium coach, Domenico Tedesco, highly expects De Bruyne to be in the best condition for this month's challenge.

Despite not meeting frequently over the past 18 months, De Bruyne has already expressed his approval for the new coach, who took over from Roberto Martinez after Qatar's disappointing 2022 World Cup.

De Bruyne, who will be 33 years old during the tournament, said Belgium's team was too old in Qatar. They failed amid a friction report in the team, eliminated in the first half. Tedesco have made many of their team's refreshments and tactics since then.

"The new system ensures we can put more pressure and win the ball faster," said De Bruyne, quoted by VOI from Reuters. "Then you will regain possession of the ball faster and that's our coach's goal."

About De Bruyne's role, there has been a long debate in Belgium over her best position. The consensus seems to be the most effective in midfield. "Discussion of my position in the national team will continue. I have now played nearly a hundred international matches and how many have we won? Wherever I am: I did my job," he said.

"You journalists always make it a theme and we players can't do anything," said De Bruyne.