Belgium secured their spot within the final 16 of Euro 2024, however there have been few celebrations and no adulation at full-time in Stuttgart.
As an alternative, captain Kevin de Bruyne led his team-mates away from the followers who jeered loudly, expressing their frustration on the goalless draw with Ukraine.
Minutes earlier, the midfielder had performed a nook brief, stored it close to the flag and didn’t try to attain from the set-piece. It was ultimately performed again to goalkeeper Koen Casteels and met with intense booing from the Belgium help.
“There may be one minute left of the sport so you do not wish to take any dangers,” mentioned De Bruyne.
“I perceive individuals need us to win but when we go for the nook, they win it again, then they rating, then everybody will kill me.
“Typically it’s essential to take sure dangers and typically it’s essential to be sensible. Two minutes from the top it’s essential to be sensible, positively.”
It was a transfer which sparked discontent from his facet’s followers, who hours earlier had marched to the stadium in large numbers whereas chanting and singing De Bruyne’s title.
Belgium ended runners-up in Group E to Romania, with 4 factors from three matches and means Domenico Tedesco’s males should face World Cup finalists France subsequent.
However after leaving Stuttgart on such unhealthy phrases with their supporters, what message does De Bruyne have earlier than their essential last-16 tie?
“We simply want [the fans], I don’t know what else to say. We simply want them, you realize?” he mentioned.
“We’ll want them towards France like we wanted them within the final three video games.”