Euro 2024: Kevin De Bruyne casts doubt on Belgium future after defeat to France - ‘I need to rest my body’
By Ben Southby
Published 01/07/2024 at 23:39 GMT+1
Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he will make a decision on his international future at the end of summer after Belgium were beaten by France in the last 16 at the UEFA European Championship. De Bruyne has turned out 104 times for The Red Devils and may have played his final game for his country as he considers retirement. “It's been a very long season, I need to rest my body," he said after the game.
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Video credit: SNTV
Kevin De Bruyne has admitted that there is a decision to be made over his international future following Belgium’s defeat to France a t the UEFA European Championship on Monday.
Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal handed France a dramatic 1-0 victory in the last 16, as Didier Didier Deschamps’ side reached the quarter-finals.
De Bruyne has played and captained The Red Devils in all four games at Euro 2024 in Germany and scored in a 2-0 group-stage win over Romania, his 28th goal for Belgium.
The Manchester City star has represented his country in six major international tournaments since his debut in 2010 and has racked up over 100 appearances, but has hinted that he may have played his last game.
Whether the France defeat could spell the end of his international career, the 32-year-old said: “It's too early to answer. Let me process this loss.
“It's been a very long season, I need to rest my body. I will make my decision after the summer.”
Belgium head coach Domenico Tedesco added: "He knows how important he is. He doesn't need my opinion about it because he knows.
“Immediately after the game, it's difficult to ask these kind of questions to Kevin."
Romania surprisingly topped Group E, with Belgium settling for second place after an opening defeat to Slovakia and a goalless draw against Ukraine in the third group match.
That meant Tedesco’s side advanced into the tougher side of the draw - on paper at least - grouped with Germany, France, Portugal and Spain.
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Despite holding on until the 85th minute against France, Belgium were eventually undone by an unfortunate own goal as they crashed out of yet another major tournament without securing silverware.
“It is a pity,” De Bruyne said as he reflected on Monday’s defeat. “We had a plan and we executed that plan pretty well.
“We knew that with France's qualities they would have more of the ball, but I think we defended well as a team and didn't concede many chances apart from a few long shots.
“We had our moments, although there weren't very many. But we could be dangerous.
“Our plan was good until their goal came, with the deflection, there is not a lot we can say about that.
“It's unfortunate, so we have to accept it.”
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