France have knocked out Belgium from the 2024 European Championships in Germany and the fallout is something that could taint Kevin De Bruyne’s legacy.
The Manchester City man is part of a touted golden generation at Belgium which had stars like Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Their best achievement to date is their third place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, which many believed they could have gone on to win if fate did not interrupt.
Because of this, De Bruyne and his teammates have faced much scrutiny from the media for being serial underachievers despite being a talented group. The national team fans have also come down hard on them a few times in the past because of this.
De Bruyne, however, adopted a stance that could see him lose his social capital with the fans in the wake of the Euros.
The Man City man has refused to allow his team be subject to the boos and negative chants of his country’s fans, with his defiance culminating in a walkout after they lost to France in the round of 16.
A Vertonghen own-goal saw the 2022 FIFA World Cup finalists trump the Red Devils to make it to the quarter-final and De Bruyne, who has been exemplary in the ongoing tournament, was unhappy at how the team’s efforts were received. As such, he ordered his team off the pitch in his capacity as the captain while the fans booed and hurled negative comments at them.
Asked if he was not worried about tainting his sparkling international legacy, the multiple-time Premier League winner and UEFA Champions League winner said defiantly that he would do it again.
“No [it’s not personal]. I was simply surprised. The atmosphere beforehand [against Ukraine] was good. Apparently there were boos at a corner, but I didn’t hear them at that moment,” De Bruyne said to the media. “I only realised that something was wrong when Jan [Vertonghen] and I wanted to greet the supporters.”
“Look, I can only guarantee that we want to win every time. That’s our job, we will always try. That’s the minimum, but at the same time also the maximum. You can’t ask for more.”
He added: “Yes, [I’d do it again]. That’s my honest opinion. I’ve seen things that I can’t agree with. So I’ve reacted. Some people might think I was wrong. Other people might agree with me. That’s okay. You can’t do right by everyone. I’ve thought about the group.”
“I have no problem with criticism. We can deal with that. It could also be better. But those [middle finger] gestures were not acceptable. If I do that on the street, it is not appreciated either.”
