Is Kevin De Bruyne Injured Know Reason Why Belgium Star Is Not Playing Against Usa In The Fifa World Cup
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Hindustan TimesVerified Publisher
The high intensity FIFA World Cup match between the USA and Belgium kicked off at the Seattle stadium on Monday evening. However, what has raised concerns among fans is that Kevin De Bruyne was not included in the starting XI for the Round of 16 match The high intensity FIFA World Cup match between the USA and Belgium kicked off at the Seattle stadium on Monday evening. However, what has raised concerns among fans is that Kevin De Bruyne was not...
The high intensity FIFA World Cup match between the USA and Belgium kicked off at the Seattle stadium on Monday evening. However, what has raised concerns among fans is that Kevin De Bruyne was not included in the starting XI for the Round of 16 match.
The Belgian captain has been named among the substitutes against the USMNT, with Jeremy Doku also starting on the bench.
According to DH Les Sports, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia revealed before the game that the Napoli midfielder was one of three players who were not fully fit heading into the encounter.
Even so, De Bruyne’s inclusion on the bench suggests the issue is not believed to be serious, and he could still be introduced later in the match to provide the kind of instant creativity and attacking spark Belgium may need vs USMNT.
The USMNT, meanwhile, fielded an unchanged XI from their Round of 32 encounter with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The major controversy in Mauricio Pochettino's side remained the inclusion of Folarin Balogun, who made a return to field in Seattle despite a red card.
The players Rudi Garcia selected instead of KDB, Doku and Romelu Lukaku seemed to pay dividends immediately. Dodi Lukebakio, the winger who started in place of Doku, combined with midfielder Nikolas Raskin who started in place of Kevin De Bryune, and striker Charles De Ketelaere to score the first goal for Belgium in the ninth minute.
Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard also had a key role to play in the build-up to the goal.
Additionally, a part of the reason why Rudi Garcia made four changes to his starting XI had to do with the team's performance in the Round of 32 game against Senegal. The obvious improvement of his late subs - which included taking off KDB - helped the team clinch a crucial win.
Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.Read More