Kevin De Bruyne can keep this blood form for a few more months. The metronome opened the score against Wales and served Batshuayi for the 2-0. A shame that the Red Devils again conceded a goal after the break, which again sowed doubts. Group win in the Nations League is a long way off, because the Netherlands also fourth. “We’ll make it a fun game,” promised De Bruyne.
Belgium – Wales in a nutshell:
- man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne scored and let score. After his opening goal, he fired on Wales several more times, eventually serving Batshuayi.
- remarkable: Roberto Martinez had to go to the dressing room in the final phase. In his 75th international match, he was shown red. Because he kept the ball for a while.
- next stop: On Sunday, the Red Devils play football in Amsterdam against group leader the Netherlands. If they want to reach the Final 4 of the Nations League, they have to win by at least 3 goals difference.
King De Bruyne
The Belgians started anything but sprightly in their last match of the year on home soil. Against a young Wales they struggled to keep the ball in the squad.
After 10 minutes they suddenly put together a sharp action. Debutant Debast played on Meunier and Batshuayi served De Bruyne with a center. He simply put the ball into the Welsh goal: 1-0.
KDB was looking forward to it and wanted to add a few more scoops. After three attempts in a row, he put the ball perfectly at the far post for Batshuayi. The replacement for the injured Lukaku only had to put his foot against it: 2-0, his 26th goal in 46 matches.
No sequel after the break
After a convincing first, a disappointing second half followed. This time, the Welshmen punished the Belgians’ weak start.
Moore climbed higher than Debast, Courtois had no chance on the header: 2-1. Once again the Red Devils could not keep the clean sheet.
Wales came close to making it 2-2, but Courtois and Alderweireld also put a stop to that. The latter won an aerial duel against his former Tottenham teammate Bale.
There was no real answer from the Belgians. They were able to take back control, but they no longer caused any danger.
Martinez had to step down in the extra minutes. He was shown a red card for delaying a restart of Wales. The national coach kept the ball too long.
Thibaut Courtois has no chance on a header from Moore.
Mission impossible against the Netherlands
Still in group 4 of the Nations League won the Netherlands 2-0 in Poland. If Belgium still wants to make it to the Final 4, it will have to win by at least 3 goals difference in Amsterdam on Sunday. The first leg in Brussels ended 1-4.
De Bruyne: “We had to stay calmer after the break”
“In the first half we made the right moves at the right moments”, star Kevin De Bruyne looked back. “We had to stay calm in the second half.”
“We played a little differently because these are the last moments to try things out,” he clarified.
“On Sunday we will try to win in the Netherlands. That will be a fun match in preparation for the World Cup. And if we still push through, that’s a nice bonus.”
It will be a fun party in the Netherlands.
Debutant Debast: “Felt good”
Zeno Debast was immediately allowed to show up in the base. “I only knew it two hours before kick-off. In the beginning it was a bit overwhelming, then I got into the match and it felt good”, the 18-year-old Anderlecht defender reacted.
The debutant formed a defense with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. “They tried to guide me as much as possible, that helped me enormously.”
Debast made a good turn, only with the 2-1 he didn’t seem to go free. “It was a big guy,” the teen explained. “I knew that ball was coming, so maybe I had to contact him a little more.”
Is Debast now dreaming of Qatar? “That would be great. I’m going to work hard in training,” he promised. “This competition shirt will already have a nice place at home.”
