• News

Belgium dealt blow as De Bruyne set to miss Euro 2020 opener

Kevin De Bruyne - Belgium
Getty Images
Advertisement

The Red Devils will have to make do without their primary source of creativity against Russia while they will be missing another key player.

Kevin De Bruyne is set to sit out Belgium’s Euro 2020 opener against Russia on Saturday.

De Bruyne was forced onto the treatment table after he suffered facial fracture in the Champions League final at the end of last month.

The Manchester City midfielder joined his international teammates only on Monday after undergoing minor surgery last week. And, as it turns out, he isn’t fit enough to feature in the match on Saturday.

The Red Devils will be missing another of their key player in the shape of Axel Witsel, who has been on the sidelines since January due to an Achilles injury.

“Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne did not travel to Russia. They stayed in Tubize to continue their recovery,” read a post on Belgium’s official Twitter.

“The next two days will be really important, just to get him back to really being able to move freely and start getting the exercise needed before he can come to the group,” Belgium boss Roberto Martinez said of De Bruyne in his pre-match press conference.

x