Kevin De Bruyne appeared fed up with the Belgium national team following their 2-0 loss to France in a UEFA Nations League A Group 2 affair.
De Bruyne was amongst Domenico Tedesco’s side in their defeat to Les Blues at the Groupama Stadium in France.
Randal Kolo Muani put the hosts ahead in the 29th minute, before Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead for Didier Deschamps’ side 3 minutes before the hour mark.
Following the intense encounter, De Bruyne slammed the tactical approach of Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco.
Kevin De Bruyne Hints On Potential Exit From The Belgium National Team
In a separate post-match seethe, Kevin De Bruyne was seen saying “I quit” plunging his future with the Red Devils into doubt.
His comments came after he was spotted by the cameras in a heated post-match discussion with former Red Devils winger Frank Vercauteren.
Vercauteren, 67, is set to leave his role as the sporting director of Belgium, and at the end of the conversation with De Bruyne, the Manchester City star was seen uttering the assertions about potentially departing the national team.
De Bruyne declined to expand on his frustrations in the post-match mixed zone and that fueled fears that he may be ready to retire from international football.
This is also coming about a week after claiming that he wants to keep representing the national team of Belgium until the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kevin De Bruyne Takes Swipe At The Tactical Approach Of Belgium Boss Domenico Tedesco
Meanwhile, during an interview after the game, Kevin De Bruyne brashly took a dig at the tactical approach of Domenico Tedesco.
De Bruyne said: “There is not much to say. I cannot say what went wrong.”
He added: “I already said that to the team at half-time and I cannot repeat that in the media. I did that when I was 18 at RC Genk, but today I am 33. You will find out for yourself.”
Kevin De Bruyne was questioned further about the game by former Belgium forward, now Television reporter Gilles de Bilde, with the 53-year-old suggesting that the team’s initial high press had been effective.
De Bruyne shared: “Gilles, you have also played football, but you are not asking the right tactical questions.”
The former Chelsea man added that certain players in the team are not performing their duties due to tactics Tedesco deployed.
Kevin De Bruyne said: “It is not about transition, but about people who do not perform their tasks.
“We simply have too many at the back. If you stay with six at the back, there is no connection. Then that is how it is. It is what it is.”
Belgium Are Not As Good As In 2018 – Kevin De Bruyne Says
De Bruyne also pointed out that certain individuals in Belgium’s national team haven’t given their all and admitted that the team isn’t “as good as in 2018.”
The 33-year-old said: “I was the first to see that we are not as good as in 2018.
“But if our standard is the top and we are not good enough to reach that level, then you have to at least give everything. If some people don’t even do that, then it’s over.”
Belgium’s best outing in recent years came at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they won the Bronze medal defeating England 2-0 in the third-place final.
Kevin De Bruyne At Manchester City
Elsewhere, Kevin De Bruyne has started the 2024/25 season on an impressive note, as he looks to guide Manchester City to success this term.
De Bruyne has made 3 appearances for the Cityzens this campaign, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.
His display has helped Pep Guardiola’s side move to the summit of the Premier League table with 6 points from 3 matches and they have been tipped as favorites to win the league crown for the 5th season in a row.
They will also be looking to delineate their brilliance in domestic cup competitions alongside the UEFA Champions League.
