Belgium’s most valuable in concern
Despite Belgium’s opening World Cup win over Canada, Kevin De Bruyne was seething. Manchester City’s midfield star is not happy, neither with himself nor with the “Red Devils”. “As a team we have to be braver, also on the ball. I adapted to the level of the entire team and that wasn’t enough. I expect a lot more,” said the 31-year-old on Friday at the Belgian training camp.
Belgium started the tournament in Qatar on Wednesday with a happy 1-0 win over outsiders Canada. The next opponent is Morocco on Sunday at 2 p.m. Veteran De Bruyne, his nation’s most valuable player, had already caused a stir on Wednesday when he, too, was irritated by the surprising choice for player of the game. “I’m surprised I’m sitting here. I played badly,” De Bruyne said.
World Cup 2022: The most valuable players per nation
Akram Afif | Qatar | Al Sadd SC | Market value: €4 million
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Squad value: €14.9m
Keylor Navas | Costa Rica | PSG | Market value: €5 million
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Squad value: €18.75m
Sultan Al-Ghannam | Saudi Arabia | Al-Nassr FC | Market value: €2.5 million
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Squad value: €25.2m
Matthew Ryan | Australia | FC Copenhagen | Market value: €5 million
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Squad value: €37.3m
Mehdi Taremi | Iran | FC Porto | Market value: €20 million
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Squad value: €59.53m
Ellyes Skhiri | Tunisia | 1. FC Cologne | Market value: €13 million
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Squad value: €62.4m
Moises Caicedo | Ecuador | Brighton | Market value: €13 million
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Squad value: €146.5m
Daichi Kamada | Japan | Eintracht Frankfurt | Market value: €30 million
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Squad value: €154m
Frank Anguissa | Cameroon | SSC Napoli | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €155m
Ben Davis | Wales | Tottenham | Market value: €20 million*
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Squad value: €160.15m
*plus Brennan Johnson (Nottingham; MV €20m)
Heung Min Son | South Korea | Tottenham | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €164.48m
Edson Alvarez | Mexico | ajax | Market value: €35 million
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Squad value: €176.1m
Alphonso Davies | Canada | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €187.3m
Thomas Partey | Ghana | Arsenal | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €216.9m
Kalidou Koulibaly | Senegal | Chelsea | Market value: €35 million
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Squad value: €229.5m
Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG | Market value: €65 million
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Squad value: €241.1m
Robert Lewandowski | Poland | FC Barcelona | Market value: €45 million
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Squad value: €255.6m
Christian Pulisic | United States | Chelsea | Market value: €38 million
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Squad value: €277.4m
Manuel Akanji | Switzerland | Manchester City | Market value: €30 million
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Squad value: €281m
Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg | Denmark | Tottenham | Market value: €45 million
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Squad value: €353m
Dušan Vlahovic | Serbia | Juventus | Market value: €80 million
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Squad value: €359.5m
Josko Gvardiol | Croatia | RB Leipzig | Market value: €60 million
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Squad value: €377 million
Federico Valverde | Uruguay | Madrid | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €449.7m
Kevin De Bruyne | Belgium | Manchester City | Market value: €80 million
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Squad value: €563.2m
Matthijs de Ligt | Netherlands | Bayern Munich | Market value: €70 million
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Squad value: €587.25m
Lautaro Martinez | Argentina | Inter | Market value: €75 million
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Squad value: €645.2m
Peter | Spain | FC Barcelona | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €877m
Yamal Musiala | Germany | Bayern Munich | Market value: €100 million
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Squad value: €885.5m
Rafael Leao | Portugal | Milan | Market value: €85 million
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Squad value: €937m
Kylian Mbappe | France | PSG | Market value: €160 million
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Squad value: €997.5m
Vinicius Jr. | Brazil | Madrid | Market value: €120 million
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Squad value: €1.14bn
Phil Foden | UK | Manchester City | Market value: €110 million
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Squad value: €1.26bn
World Cup 2022: Belgium’s De Bruyne self-critical – wants to work on reactions
In Belgium, his gestures and frustrated demeanor caused discussions during the game. “I know that my reactions are not always good. I have to work on it,” De Bruyne admitted, but also admitted his frustration: “We can’t play like Manchester City. As a national team you have to adapt to the players you have. Does that frustrate me sometimes? Yes, that’s the way it is.”
In addition, De Bruyne warned that the national team had not been playing at the level of 2018 for some time. At that time, Belgium had achieved the greatest national football success with third place at the World Cup in Russia. “It worries me because I know the team has enough potential. I hope our level will rise,” said De Bruyne. At the finals in Qatar, Belgium have the ninth-highest squad worth €563.20m.
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