De Bruyne will be Belgium's Euro playmaker, Red Devils coach Wilmots says

Record ID: 103861

  • Title: De Bruyne will be Belgium's Euro playmaker, Red Devils coach Wilmots says
  • Date: 12th May 2016
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FILE/NOVEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) BELGIAN NATIONAL TEAM ATTACKING MIDFIELDER KEVIN DE BRUYNE ARRIVING FOR TRAINING BELGIAN NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM TRAINING IN PROGRESS DE BRUYNE TRAINING BELGIAN NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN EDEN HAZARD TRAINING BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 9, 2014) (REUTERS) VINCENT COMPANY (RIGHT) WALKING OUT TO TRAINING WITH GOALKEEPER THIBAUT COURTOIS BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (FILE/MARCH 4, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BELGIAN NATIONAL TEAM ON FOOTBALL PITCH FORMER BELGIAN NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN VINCENT KOMPANY TRAINING HAZARD AND KOMPANY TRAINING HAZARD HITTING BALL, RUNNING
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2016 15:44
  • Keywords: Belgium Soccer Wilmots De Bruyn Kompany Origi Chadli
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0024HI42M7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Belgium will deploy Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne as a playmaker behind two strikers at next month's Euro 2016 Championship in France, coach Marc Wilmots said on Thursday (May 12) after naming a preliminary 24-man squad.
    Wilmots has included eight forwards and is planning an attacking approach when his side meet Italy, Ireland and Sweden in Group E in France.
    "I want to say that I want (Manchester City's) Kevin De Bruyne to play in a number 10 role, he has all the qualities. Having only two (strikers in the selection) would have been dangerous. Why? because I picture (Liverpool F.C. striker Divock) Origi and (Atletico Madrid Midfielder Yannick) Carrasco playing on the right side. I want speed and depth, not players demanding the ball at their feet. On the right side, I need people who go deep. Kevin is the perfect man to hand over these balls. I can even picture him stepping back and to play with an additional striker," Wilmots told a news conference.
    De Bruyne has had a sparkling first season at City since joining in a big-money move from Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg.
    Belgium named nine defenders due to injury concerns over Nicolas Lombaerts and Thomas Vermaelen. The squad must be reduced to 23 players by May 31.
    Wilmots said he is expecting injured Liverpool striker Divock Origi to make a full recovery before the deadline.
    He praised the attacker's speed, adding he had put Tottenham Hotspur's Nacer Chadli on standby.
    "(Liverpool F.C. striker Divock) Origi and (Atletico Madrid Midfielder Yannick) Carrasco are two fast players with a lot of speed. I love this conversion. When we have the ball, we have a deadly weapon. (Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Midfielder) Nacer (Chadli) has had difficulties in the past few months and I'm not sure he's 100 percent fit," Wilmots said.
    The Belgian coach added the injury that has sidelined captain Vincent Kompany was a blow to both the player and the team.
    "I think it is a shame for him, first of all. He misses Euro 2016, it's a shame for the team. He is our leader. I think Vincent has to concentrate on his recovery and his health and try to get back to Manchester City as quickly as possible. And I think that's what he wants. He continues to support us," Wilmots said.
    However, he denied media reports that Kompany would be used at the tournament behind the scenes.
    Belgium begin their preparations with a training camp next week before meeting Switzerland, Finland and Norway in friendlies.
    Squad:
    Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Jean-Francois Gillett (Mechelen), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool)
    Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Jason Denayer (Galatasaray), Bjorn Engels (Club Bruges), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Jordan Lukaku (Oostende), Thomas Meunier (Club Bruges), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
    Midfielders: Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Radja Nainggolan (AS Roma), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg)
    Forwards: Michy Batshauyi (Olympique Marseille), Christian Benteke (Liverpool), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Divock Origi (Liverpool).
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