Kevin De Bruyne spoke his mind after Belgium drew 0-0 to Ukraine on Wednesday.
Domenico Tedesco’s side were evidently trying to play for a draw — with Jan Vertonghen notably kicking the ball back to Koen Casteels during a late corner for his side.
De Bruyne was also seen barking orders at Johan Bakayoko to run towards his direction for a last-gasp corner to ensure they can run down the clock. Considering a win would have ensured Belgium avoid one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 in the Round of 16 in France, their approach came as a shock.
Craig Burley blasts Kevin De Bruyne after his confession after Belgium drew to Ukraine
Ukraine were creating plenty of chances on the break and there was a possibility that they would score a late goal and sent the Belgians packing.
But even so, being the superior team on paper, Tedesco and Co. perhaps should have chased a winner.
After the contest, Manchester City’s number 17 defended his side’s approach, as quoted by The Mirror: “We would have preferred to win this game but so be it. Let me ask you this, what if we went all out to attack and we conceded a goal to go out, what will you [media] tell us then?”
Recently, Harry Kane hit back at former England players via HaytersTV for criticising the national team’s performances at Euro 2024
Now that De Bruyne has justified Belgium’s unconvincing showing against Ukraine, Craig Burley tore into him for not accepting criticism — especially considering he was seen asking his team to walk off the pitch when they were applauding the supporters as they were being booed.
On ESPN UK, he said: “I am sick and tired already in this tournament, we’ve had it with Harry Kane, one or two others, now we have it with Kevin De Bruyne. Unwilling to accept the criticism that’s coming your way, this time from the crowd.”
“This is big boys’ rules here. Do you expect your home fans, your own fans to applaud that drivel? Really? Harry Kane, he expects everybody to tow the line and get behind a rancid England side in this tournament.”
“Two of the biggest players in European football, Kane and De Bruyne can’t accept that the fans demand more. It’s embarrassing!”
Craig Burley went on to state how De Bruyne should have reacted to the Belgian fans’ reaction to their poor showing.
“He should have been in that press conference saying, ‘I would have booed if I was watching that.’ Because it’s not good enough, it’s not! There are results and there is performance and they both go hand-in-hand and sometimes you clamber to a championship by not playing well. Very unlikely but sometimes, it can happen.”
Burley continued: “But that’s at least two elite-level players that have come out whinging and crying. If they don’t like it, go and sit on the beach and somebody else do it, it’s embarrassing!”
“We would have preferred to win this game, but so be it. Let me ask you this, what if we went all out to attack and we conceded a goal to go out, what will you [media] tell us then?”
However, after the game, De Bruyne revealed that he understood why the Belgium fans were dissatisfied, as quoted by The Mirror.
“I can understand the reactions. We didn’t win and we’re not first in our group, but I can’t say that my team-mates didn’t give it all to win this match. We did the job, we qualified after losing our first game. We’re now on the wrong side of the draw but we’ll try and prepare for France as best as possible and then we’ll see.”
“The players were rather calm in the dressing room, there wasn’t a lot of noise. I’ve been playing football for a long time, I’ve had many good moments, I won a lot, I’ve had a lot of difficult and painful moments in my career, it’s not very nice to go through that.”
“This happens in football, but whatever happens you need to know how to manage the less fine moments. We know we could have done better but we qualified.”
Craig Burley must have missed what Kevin De Bruyne said post-match
Craig Burley is being harsh when discussing how De Bruyne reacted, considering he must have been frustrated after a disappointing result.
Speaking right after a game in the heat of the moment must especially be a challenge when the player in question is the national team’s captain like the midfield maestro is.
More importantly, De Bruyne went on emphathise with how the supporters felt.
When Harry Kane hit back at the criticism from ex-pundits, it is also important to realise that his displays on the pitch have justified the stick that has come his way.
In De Bruyne’s case, he has stepped up for Belgium and there could be a possibility that the decision to see the game out came from Tedesco.
Usually, the six-time Premier League winner seems calm and composed when the pressure is sky-high and pushes his team towards getting the three points.
However, De Bruyne’s unusual reaction and acceptance to drawing the game could indicate that he was simply accepting managerial orders.
Furthermore, with how porous Belgium’s midfield and backline is, Ukraine could well have scored a late goal — a risk the City legend perhaps was unwilling to take.