De Bruyne Urges Belgium Fans to Back Team Against France

Belgium’s national football team found themselves at the center of controversy following a 0-0 draw against Ukraine in their final Group E match at Euro 2024. Despite securing qualification for the round of 16, where they will face France, the Red Devils faced intense criticism from their own supporters, leading to a tense and unusual conclusion to the match.

The game, held in Stuttgart, saw Belgium opting to play conservatively in the closing stages to ensure their progression, a strategy that did not sit well with the travelling fans. As the final whistle blew, the players were met with boos and jeers from their own supporters, who were evidently frustrated by the team’s lack of ambition to secure a victory that would have given them a more favorable draw in the knockout rounds.

Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium’s star midfielder, took center stage in the aftermath. He approached the section of the stadium housing the Belgium fans, only to turn back and instruct his teammates to leave the pitch as the boos intensified. De Bruyne, who was named UEFA’s Player of the Match, later addressed the situation in a post-match press conference, emphasizing the need for fan support and understanding the tactical decisions made during the game.

“We tried to win the match,” De Bruyne said in a postmatch news conference. “We had goal-scoring opportunities, but we didn’t take any risks with the corner because we knew we might concede a goal.

“If that happens, you’re out of the Euros. It’s a shame we didn’t manage to score before — we had opportunities — and after that we just need the fans to stay with us.

“We need these fans. We’ll need them against France. That’s all I have to say.”

The reaction from the fans was a stark contrast to their previous enthusiasm, particularly after Belgium’s impressive performance against Romania, which had rejuvenated hopes following an initial setback in the tournament. The unexpected and vitriolic response underscored the high expectations placed on the team and the disappointment of not securing top spot in their group.

Belgium’s head coach, Domenico Tedesco, shared De Bruyne’s sentiments, expressing surprise at the fans’ reaction and defending his team’s efforts. He reiterated that the primary goal was to secure qualification, which they achieved despite the challenges faced during the match.

One significant distraction during the game was a laser being shone into De Bruyne’s eyes, an incident he reported to the referee, Anthony Taylor. This added to the tension and underscored the hostile environment Belgium was contending with.

Adding to the day’s complications was the team’s difficult journey to the stadium. Tedesco described the experience as “unbelievable,” detailing how the team’s journey took an hour despite a police escort, severely disrupting their pre-match preparations. The delayed arrival left Tedesco with minimal time to address his team before the crucial fixture, further highlighting the adverse conditions they had to overcome.

Despite these setbacks, Tedesco expressed pride in his team’s resilience and performance. He acknowledged the numerous challenges Belgium faced throughout the tournament, from logistical issues to on-field distractions, and commended his players for their perseverance and ability to secure qualification under difficult circumstances.

“I have to say, the circumstances as we arrived here, how we arrived here at the stadium, I’ve never seen before,” Tedesco said. “Never. It took one hour with a police escort with no blue light.

“The road was clear. Every red traffic light was clear, but we drove at 25 mph. It’s unbelievable. Unbelievable.

“I had time to do a speech of two minutes when we got to the stadium. It was an important game, a tough one, but we had a bad preparation with this.

“So I’m proud of my team. We did well. Everything is happening here. Everything. And everything is allowed.

“We can have a delay of one hour and they don’t postpone the match by 15 minutes. They can laser point us or whatever.

“We were not very lucky in the first game. Many things, but we have still qualified. This is why I’m so proud of the players.”

The game also saw Ukraine become the first team to be eliminated from a European Championships with four points, a testament to the competitive nature of this year’s tournament. While Belgium prepares to face France in Dusseldorf, the focus will be on rallying their supporters and addressing the tactical and strategic adjustments needed to advance further.

As Belgium looks ahead to their match against France, the emphasis will be on unity and support from both the team and their fans. The players and coaching staff will aim to learn from the challenges faced in the group stages and channel the criticism into a positive, cohesive effort on the pitch. The incident with the fans serves as a reminder of the pressures and expectations at this level of competition, and the importance of maintaining a strong, supportive relationship between the team and their supporters as they strive for success in the knockout stages.