Ronaldo risks United legacy after explosive tirade
FootballKevin De Bruyne Aims Subtle Dig at Belgium Teammates Amidst Shaky World Cup Campaign in Qatar
- Kevin De Bruyne has appeared to criticise the kind of players he plays with for the national team compared to the one he has at Manchester City
- The revered playmaker explained that it was difficult to play the same way he plays for Pep Guardiola in the English Premier League
- Belgium are outside contenders for the World Cup title after a serious dip in form of its stars from four years ago in Russia
Kevin De Bruyne has made a brutal comparison between the level of players his national team and club have.
De Bruyne expressed his frustration with his Belgium teammates as the Red Devil launch a final attempt to win something with their Golden Generation.
The Manchester City midfielder argued that he could not play the same way he does for his club as the players in the national team set-up are different
"Belgium can't play in the same way as Man City. As a national team, you have to adapt to the players you have around you. Does it frustrate me sometimes? Yes, but I should show that less, although that is the perfection I strive for," as quoted by City Xtra.
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How true are De Bruyne's claims?
There is no telling that Belgium have fallen off the mark from four years ago when they were firing from all cylinders. Eden Hazard was their best player then, complemented by a red-hot Romelu Lukaku and De Bruyne.
However, it's only De Bruyne who has maintained his standards. At Manchester City, the 31-year-old has the luxury of playing with the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Bernando Silva, who deliver constantly for Pep Guardiola's side.
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FootballDe Bruyne makes Belgium's World Cup predictions
This comes when Sports Brief reported that De Bruyne had made a prediction about Belgium's chances for World Cup glory.
Most of the country's golden generation, including Kevin De Bruyne, are nearing the end of their peak years. With other countries getting stronger with younger talent, Belgium's window is slowly closing.
De Bruyne and Belgium reached the semis in the 2018 edition in Russia, and there was hope that they would attempt to win Euro 2020, but they were unsuccessful in that quest. Belgium are currently second in the FIFA ranking, and their team showed ominous signs of decline when they played Canada in their opening World Cup match. The Red Devils couldn't cope with Canada's aggressiveness and energy.