Napoli · UEFA Nations League · Midfielder · #7 · Belgium · 34 yrs
Kevin De Bruyne was critical of Antonio Conte's tactics at Napoli last season, but the midfielder remains a key part of the club's plans. The post De Bruyne ‘part of the project’ at Napoli despite Conte criticism appeared first on SoccerNews.
Anderson has named Kevin De Bruyne as a player he has “hugely looked up to” over the yearsThe £116M signing always wanted to play like De Bruyne as he came through Newcastle’s academyAnderson s...
During his time at Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne left a mark on the club and the Premier League like no other. Throughout his 422 appearances for City, De Bruyne’s drive, will to win, exquisite p...
Elliot Anderson wants to get Manchester City's fans out of their seats in the same way their former captain Kevin De Bruyne did. The post New Man City recruit Anderson ‘always wanted to play like De Bruyne’ appeared first on SoccerNews.
Fairytale goodbyes are a rarity in football. Belgium's 2-1 defeat by Spain in the quarter-finals of the World Cup is likely to have marked the final bow of the four remaining members of the Red Devils' golden generation. Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel have been mainstays of the national team since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but their final chance of winning football's biggest prize ended with a mistake from one of their successors.
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Look at it up there on the hill, shining in the sunlight, an almost imperceptible aura of melancholia surrounding it like a halo. Look at the ornate carvings, the faces etched across its flanks. There’s Davor Suker! Preben Elkjær! Ferenc Puskas! Is that … it is! It’s Danny Mills, his face almost entirely worn away by the years of tourists rubbing it for luck. Yes, it’s the End Of The Golden Generation Klaxon and it’s sounding its low mournful drone across the California plains as Belgium’s best depart following their quarter-final loss to Spain in Los Angeles. Though in truth it has been whining in the background for a while now. The Red Devils’ real recent high point was probably all the way back in 2018 when peak De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois were joined by Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Kompany, Vertonghen, Fellaini, Hazard, Carrasco, you know, Mertens, Dembélé … Sessions. But there was no escaping the symbolism of the botched torch pass – a tearful Courtois heading off with an injury in the second half at SoFi Stadium, his replacement Senne Lammens fluffling his lines and handing Mikel Merino Spain’s winner on a plate. “I gave him a big hug. He’s a great goalkeeper. You only get stronger from this,” Courtois said of his hapless teammate. “Eventually you cannot say much more to him or give him much more advice. He is a strong guy, strong personality. I’m sure he’ll be fine. You know, he will have some holidays and then regroup in Manchester and have a great season.” Belgium – who were further hamstrung by the loss of their captain, Youri Tielemans, to knack in the warm-up – have a rebuilding job to do, although those waters are slightly muddied by reports suggesting Courtois fancies an unhelpful year off from the international game before returning for the Euro 2028 qualifiers. Spain, meanwhile, can look forward (if that is the right phrase) to a semi-final meeting with France. “They’ll be just as worried as we are,” roared Luis de la Fuente, perhaps slightly being stitched up in translation.I can only hope that when Jürgen Klopp flew Team Mbappé around for what turned out to be no good reason, he at least booked the flight on Trivago” – Scott Pratt.As the Bayeux Tapestry was being unloaded at the British Museum in the dead of night I couldn’t help thinking ‘it’s coming home.’ An omen perhaps? 1,000 years of hurt?” – Allastair McGillivray.This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions. Continue reading...
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros deliver a comprehensive live reaction to Spain's tense 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium, highlighting Charles De Ketelaere's breakthrough header, Thibaut Courtois' unfortunate injury, and Mikel Merino's legendary super-sub heroics. Broadcasting from Miami, the guys hand out official match grades, honor the international career of Kevin De Bruyne, and evaluate Lamine Yamal's development before previewing the colossal Spain vs. France semifinal and the remaining quarterfinal fixtures involving England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland.
While the final result is yet to be decided, today’s showdown could dramatically reshape the road to the trophy. Spain and Belgium meet in one of the biggest matches of the 2026 World Cup, with a semifinal place hanging in the balance. While the final result is yet to be decided, today’s showdown could dramatically reshape the road to the trophy. Stay with us to discover how every possible outcome could influence the tournament bracket and determine who takes the next step toward World Cup glory. Spain enters the quarterfinal after an impressive run that has strengthened its reputation as one of the favorites to lift the trophy. Belgium, meanwhile, arrives with renewed confidence after convincingly eliminating the United States and hopes to continue its resurgence against the reigning European champion. Spain and Belgium arrive with contrasting journeys La Roja topped Group H with seven points, defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while drawing with Cape Verde before cruising past Austria 3-0 and edging Portugal 1-0 in the knockout rounds. Luis de la Fuente’s side has become one of the tournament’s standout performers thanks to its disciplined defensive structure and patient possession-based approach. Belgium’s route has been far more dramatic. The Red Devils finished first in Group G with five points, beating New Zealand and drawing with Egypt and Iran before surviving Senegal in extra time and producing an emphatic 4-1 victory over co-host USA in the Round of 16. DateSpain’s OpponentStageResultJune 15, 2026Cabo VerdeGroup StageDraw (0–0)June 21, 2026Saudi ArabiaGroup StageWin (4–0)June 26, 2026UruguayGroup StageWin (1–0)July 2, 2026AustriaRound of 32Win (3–0)July 6, 2026PortugalRound of 16Win (1–0) The European champion also arrives carrying remarkable momentum. Spain has not conceded a goal throughout the tournament and became the first national team in World Cup history to keep six consecutive clean sheets. Goalkeeper Unai Simon has also extended his scoreless streak beyond 600 minutes in the competition. Belgium, however, has shown steady improvement after an inconsistent group stage. Veteran stars Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois continue to provide leadership, while younger players such as Charles De Ketelaere and Leandro Trossard have added another dimension to the attack. DateBelgium’s OpponentStageResultJune 15, 2026EgyptGroup StageDraw (1–1)June 21, 2026IranGroup StageDraw (0–0)June 26, 2026New ZealandGroup StageWin (5–1)July 1, 2026SenegalRound of 32Win (3–2 AET)July 6, 2026United StatesRound of 16Win (4–1) What happens if Spain wins and Belgium loses? A Spanish victory would send La Roja into the 2026 World Cup semifinals, where France already awaits after the French defeated Morocco 2-0. Pau Cubarsi #22 of Spain celebrates after a goal scored by Pedro Porro #12 celebrates. Spain would continue its unbeaten tournament, extend its historic defensive run, and move within one victory of reaching its first World Cup final since winning the competition in 2010. Belgium, meanwhile, would see its tournament come to an end despite its late resurgence. The victory would also reinforce Spain’s status as one of the leading favorites to capture a second World Cup title under Luis de la Fuente. What happens if the match is tied after 90 minutes? A draw at the end of regulation would not decide the bracket. Instead, the quarterfinal would move into two 15-minute periods of extra time. Alex Baena celebrates a goal for Spain. Should the teams remain level after 120 minutes, the semifinal spot would be decided through a penalty shootout. Only then would one team officially secure its place against France while the other would be eliminated. Unlike the group stage, there is no possibility of both teams advancing or sharing points once the knockout rounds begin. What happens if Belgium wins and Spain loses? A Belgian victory would produce one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. The Red Devils would advance t
Spain and Belgium face off in a crucial 2026 World Cup quarterfinal clash, with a place in the semifinals on the line. The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals continue at Los Angeles Stadium, where Spain and Belgium clash in a crucial match as both look to book their place among the tournament’s final four teams. Spain stumbled into the tournament with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, but have looked sharper with every match since, cruising to the top of Group H before thrashing Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32 and edging out Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 on a late Mikel Merino strike. Much of the attention heading into Friday’s match falls on Lamine Yamal. The young forward has managed just a single goal through five appearances this tournament and will start today alongside Mikel Oyarzabal, who is leading the squad with four goals. Belgium, meanwhile, needed a dramatic turnaround to reach this stage, coming from behind to beat Senegal in extra time after topping Group G, before putting together their most complete performance of the tournament in a 4-1 rout of the USMNT to reach the quarterfinals. Charles De Ketelaere #17 of Belgium celebrates a goal vs the USMNT. (Getty Images) Spain’s confirmed lineup Luis de la Fuente will make only one change to the lineup that eliminated Portugal, opting to use midfielder Fabian Ruiz from the start, leaving Pedri on the substitutes’ bench. Spain’s confirmed starting XI: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri,Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal. Belgium’s confirmed lineup Rudi Garcia will lean once again on Belgium’s veteran core, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield with a front line built for pace and directness. Belgium’s confirmed starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere.
The unexpected change raised plenty of questions, as Belgium lost one of its most important midfield figures before a massive clash against a Spain side chasing another World Cup title. Youri Tielemans was expected to play a crucial role for Belgium against Spain in the 2026 World Cup Quarter-finals, but the midfielder was suddenly removed from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff. The unexpected change raised plenty of questions, as Belgium will be without one of its most important midfield figures before a massive clash against a Spain side chasing another World Cup title. Belgium arrives at the match with growing confidence after overcoming several challenges during the tournament. The Red Devils finished top of their group before producing dramatic knockout performances that restored belief in their chances of reaching the final stages. Rudi Garcia and his players survived a thrilling encounter against Senegal in the Round of 32, winning 3-2 after extra time after falling behind late in the match. The team then delivered one of its best performances of the tournament with a 4-1 victory over the United States, showing the attacking quality that made it a dangerous opponent. Spain, meanwhile, entered the quarter-final without conceding a single goal in the tournament, while also carrying a long unbeaten streak. Luis de la Fuente’s team had progressed through the competition with impressive control, combining defensive organization with the creativity of players such as Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Oyarzabal. 🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Belgium XI in the World Cup quarter-finals vs. Spain! 🇧🇪💫 pic.twitter.com/5hg9qUU1vs— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 10, 2026 Why Youri Tielemans is missing for Belgium Belgium entered the quarter-final hoping to continue its impressive turnaround at the tournament, but the team suffered an immediate blow before the match even started. Tielemans was forced out of the lineup after picking up an injury during the warm-up, leaving coach Rudi Garcia with no choice but to make a late adjustment. According to reports from BEIN Sports France’s John Ferreira and The Athletic, Tielemans experienced discomfort during the warm-up and was removed from the starting XI despite initially being named in the lineup. The change came only minutes before kickoff, with Belgium confirming the midfielder’s absence through its official channels. The Red Devils stated: “Following an injury during the warm-up, Youri Tielemans is replaced in the starting XI by Hans Vanaken.” A huge blow for Belgium with Youri Tielemans injured in the warm-up. Hans Vanaken has replaced him in midfield.Spain vs Belgium live blog: https://t.co/tc55WnqwYO pic.twitter.com/si70cV4O6V— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 10, 2026 The decision meant Hans Vanaken replaced Tielemans in midfield, joining Nicolas Raskin and Kevin De Bruyne as Belgium attempts to maintain its balance against one of the strongest teams in the competition. Major loss for Belgium’s midfield structure Tielemans’ absence represented a significant tactical problem for Belgium because of his ability to influence matches in several areas. The midfielder provides creativity, passing range, defensive work rate, and the ability to arrive in attacking positions at important moments. The 29-year-old had been one of Belgium’s key players during the 2026 World Cup campaign, helping the team navigate a difficult path toward the quarter-finals. His leadership and experience were especially valuable as Belgium attempted to challenge Spain’s dominant possession-based style. Youri Tielemans #8 of Belgium celebrates a goal vs Senegal. The timing of the injury made the situation even more difficult. Belgium was preparing to face a Spain side that had been nearly impossible to break down, entering the match as the only team at the tournament yet to concede a goal. Without Tielemans, Garcia had to quickly reorganize his midfield setup and rely on Vanaken to provide a different prof
Dan Riccio and Blake Price recap France's 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco and preview a massive Spain vs. Belgium clash on The 90th Minute. The tournament field is thinning out as the business end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives. On the latest matchday edition of The 90th Minute, co-hosts Dan Riccio and Blake Price unpack a monumental result out of Boston and preview the remaining paths to global glory. Listen to the full tactical review on Spotify to catch up on the entire tournament breakdown. The show leads with an analytical review of France’s convincing 2-0 quarterfinal masterclass over Morocco. Didier Deschamps’ clinical side proved exactly why they are heavily favored to claim the trophy, shutting out a resilient Moroccan outfit. Despite an early first-half penalty miss by Kylian Mbappé, the French captain made history in the second half by hammering home his eighth goal of the tournament, taking his total 2026 tournament contributions to an astonishing 11. Ousmane Dembélé quickly added a second-half insurance goal to book Les Bleus’ ticket to a third consecutive World Cup Semifinal. The hosts dissect the game’s tactical shapes, a contentious handball incident involving Mbappé, and debate whether this current roster represents the greatest national team ever assembled. The focus then shifts entirely to the impending blockbuster tie between Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles. The duo previews the crucial tactical elements, questioning if Spain’s possession-heavy framework and depth can suffocated a red-hot Belgian team. The discussion dives deep into whether this is finally the summer where the remnants of Belgium’s Golden Generation, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, push all the way to a historic final. The program winds down with score predictions for the remaining high-stakes final-eight fixtures. The hosts look at Erling Haaland’s lethal form with Norway ahead of their clash with England, evaluate Rudi Garcia’s tactical impact, and map out the margins separating Lionel Messi’s Argentina from a stubborn Switzerland side.You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to stay entirely up to date on final scores, updated bracket configurations, and expert knockout coverage.
Belgium face Spain in a crucial 2026 World Cup quarterfinal clash, with a place in the semifinals on the line. The quarterfinal stage of the 2026 World Cup continues in Los Angeles, where Belgium take on Spain in a clash between two of Europe’s most experienced World Cup campaigners, with a semifinal berth on the line. Belgium sit 8th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, with 1,778.36 points, a total that fluctuated throughout the group stage. Rudi Garcia’s men dropped points after drawing both Egypt (1-1) and Iran (1-1), before bouncing back with a 5-1 win over New Zealand that was enough to top Group G. That inconsistency carried into the knockout rounds too, where Belgium needed a dramatic turnaround to see off Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32, rallying from two goals down. They looked far sharper in the Round of 16, cruising past the USMNT 4-1 to punch their ticket to the last eight. Standing across from them is a Spain side ranked 3rd in the world with 1,912.34 points, sitting just behind Argentina and newly crowned No. 1 France. Luis de la Fuente’s men have been the most defensively airtight team left in the tournament, having not conceded a single goal through their first four matches, a run that included a 1-0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16. Mikel Merino celebrates a goal for Spain vs Portugal. (Getty Images) Belgium eyeing a shot at their best-ever World Cup finish A place in the semifinals would put Belgium within reach of matching, and potentially surpassing, their best-ever World Cup result. The Red Devils finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, part of Belgium’s so-called golden generation led by Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, who beat England in the third-place playoff. Nearly a decade later, with De Bruyne still on the team alongside a new generation of players like Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, and Leandro Trossard, Belgium find themselves close to achieving a new historic mark at the World Cup.