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World Cup 2018 Portrait: Kevin de Bruyne

Belgium national team is a set of fantastic individuals and this World championship is perhaps the last chance for the great result of this generation. This generation might even be stronger than the one, that became European vice-champion during the 1980s and reached the semifinals of the World Cup. This time the game of Belgium depends to a large extent on the inspiration of a player who just had the best season in his career.

Kevin De Bruyne is probably the most important player in the Manchester City championship team. He finished the previous season as the player with the most assists in the Premier League. But that is not a great surprise when taking a closer look at his past.

He started in Genk, debuted for the first team at the age of 18 in 2009. During the 2010–11 season as Genk were crowned Belgian champions for the third time, he scored five goals and made 16 assists in 32 league matches. Chelsea FC showed interest and convinced the midfielder of a move ot London, who immediately loaned him to Werder. After a great debut season in the Bundesliga, he signed a deal with Wolfsburg where he was named Footballer of the Year in Germany in 2015. Later that year, he joined Manchester City for a club record £ 54 million.

His main position is the Attacking Midfield, but can equally well play as Right Wing or Left Wing. Pep Guardiola has the freedom to open wherever he sees space is offered.

He’s got a great overview of the game. He divides his assignments in all possible ways, from the center, from the interruptions, through short plays, and into the space. Excellent in transition, with ease of movement and change of direction. Play as a playmaker, but he also performs defensive duties. De Bruyne is an universal soldier, who grew up into an elite player.

His mother was born in Burundi and moved to England as a child. Due to his mother’s place of birth, he was also eligible to play for the Burundi national team. Can you imagine that? I do not!


Kevin De Bruyne in training with Manchester City. (Foto: Brad Tutterow/Flickr cc-by-sa3.0)

For the national team of Belgium, he played 60 games and scored 14 goals. He debuted in August 2010. The national team starter managed to qualify with his team for the World Cup in 2014. In the qualification round he scored four goals and was one of the most deserving player for the first time in Belgium for a big competition after 12 years.

My opinion is that the selection of Belgium might be 50% weaker without him, due to his role as the main creator of the game and with the Hazard team leader.

Not very convincing but very easily Belgium had beaten Panama. Romelu Lukaku scored two goals, but the play was led by Kevin De Bruyne, and the highlight of a good performance was the assist for the second goal of the team.

Way more convincing was their performance against Tunesia, which they had won by 5:2. De Bruyne was at the level of the form that adorned him in the previous season in the Premier League. Smart decisions, safe on the ball, precise with the additions, ready to play at any time by any of the players who would then be in the chances.

In addition, he had the task of guarding the opposing playmaker at the defensive stage and he did it perfectly.
In the attacking play of Belgium he was a constant threat the Tunesia’s defence and combined very well with Romelu Lukaku and knew to get Dries Mertens in scene. Due to his movements and his passes Belgium’s chances were created.


 
Verfolgt die Leistungen von Cristiano Ronaldo und der restlichen WM-Teams in den Highlights mit ausführlichen Zusammenfassungen und Berichten rund um die Spiele – nur mit DAZN.

DAZN WM 2018


This is a guest article from Dragan Čiča, Commentator and Journalist at Sport Klub Television. For more articles about the Serbian Football click on the banner.



Marco Stein
Co-Gründer von Cavanis Friseur und für Alles und Nichts zuständig. Ist Leeds United-Fan und weiß das immer und überall zu erwähnen.

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