Even if the midfielder is included in Belgium's Euro 2020 squad, it is highly unlikely for him to play the opening matches.
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Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s future with Belgium at the upcoming Euros will be a major doubt after the 29-year-old suffered two facial fractures on Saturday. De Bruyne sustained the injuries while playing against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final in which his team was defeated 1-0. The midfielder was in tears as he was helped off the field after a rough collision with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger. De Bruyne’s withdrawal sucked out City’s midfield creativity and made it easier for Thomas Tuchel’s men to hold on to a slender 1-0 advantage in Porto. De Bruyne was taken to the hospital after the match. However, the extent of the Belgian’s injury is unknown.
“Just got back from the hospital,” the 29-year-old posted on Twitter on Sunday. “My diagnosis is acute nose bone fracture and left orbital fracture. I feel okay now. Still disappointed about yesterday obviously but we will be back,” he concluded.
Even if the midfielder is included in Belgium’s Euro 2020 squad, it is highly unlikely for him to play the opening matches. Roberto Martinez’s first Euro Cup is in just 11 days’ time against Russia in St Petersburg. The Belgians will then face Denmark and Finland.
Despite De Bruyne’s injury, Belgium has enough quality players to top their group and move onto the next stage of the competition. However, the Manchester City midfielder is a crucial cog in Martinez’s side and he will be needed at his best if they are to go deep into the tournament, and maybe even win it.
Despite being the number 1 ranked side in the world, Belgium are not the outright favorites to win the competition. The two strongest favorites are World Cup winners France and 2016 Euro Cup winners Portugal. As fate would have it, both France and Portugal have been drawn in the same group along with another European heavyweight in Germany.
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez did not hold back against Antonio Rudiger for injuring one of his most essential players ahead of the Euros. “For me, Rudiger is very, very fortunate,” said Martinez. “When you look at the replay, there’s no clash of heads. He’s properly leaving the shoulder against Kevin. He seems concussed and we will see the state of that. But that leaves a sour taste, because Rudiger’s holding his head, it’s almost that he wants to show that he’s hiding something,” he concluded.
