Why Kevin De Bruyne is unlikely to shine at the World Cup
Kevin De Bruyne played in Belgium’s second pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt, cruising to a 3-0 victory. The Manchester City midfielder has now played 90 minutes in the same position in both warm-up games.
While the scoreline suggests a comfortable game, the Egyptians, without star player Mohamed Salah, caused their fair share of problems at the back for the Red Devils.
De Bruyne started the game but didn’t have the kind of impact that he has had at City and one can only feel that will continue at the World Cup given the way the Belgians lined up. Here are a few reasons why things may not work out for the midfielder and his team.
Midfield
Roberto Martinez chose to line up with a 3-4-2-1 formation as he has for most of his time with the Belgian national side with De Bruyne sitting alongside Alex Witsel in the midfield supplying a front three of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens, width was provided by PSG fullback Thomas Meunier and China Super League based Yannick Carrasco.
While the formation has it’s advantages and has been used to great effect by many teams, it isn’t one that suits De Bruyne. It requires the two midfielders to almost single handily protect the back three (or five) while also supporting the three forwards in attack.
As such, it requires a specific type of player, one who covers a lot of ground and can run for days while still being able to remain tactically aware and close any gaps at the back. Oddly enough, Roberto Martinez chose to leave the perfect player for the role, Radja Nainggolan, back home.
De Bruyne for all his talents and work ethic isn’t and shouldn’t be that player. He shouldn’t be burdened with such defensive responsibilities as it doesn’t help him or the team. It doesn’t help matters that he has been paired with players who aren’t great workhorses themselves.
Moussa Dembele, Wistel, and Marouane Fellaini maybe decent defensively but they do not have the legs and pace to perform the role. So even if De Bruyne was given some freedom, he will still have a lot of defending to do. And against the better sides in the tournament, that two-man midfield will be outnumbered and overrun by the three or five-man midfield set up that is familiar with most international teams.
Wingbacks
With such a formation, a team is required to have wingbacks who can put in a great shift defensively while also providing width for the team in attack. While Meunier does just that, the same can not be said of Carrasco.
Carrasco may be an excellent player going forward but his failure to cement his place in Simeone’s defensive setup tells the tale of a player who doesn’t want to and will not perform his defensive duties. As you might have guessed, the burden once again will fall on De Bruyne and his partner in midfield to cover any spaces left by Carrasco or Meunier when they go bombing forward.
So the already difficult role that De Bruyne has been asked to play has been made more difficult by the players Martinez has chosen to play alongside him.
Solution
De Bruyne is a player with great ability who is most effective for his team in the opposition box not his own. Martinez should make sure he puts one of his star men exactly where he needs to be, the opposition half, creating chances and scoring goals for his team, not defending them.
A slight change of personnel would do just that and turn what’s increasing going to looking like a failed World Cup campaign into a semifinal place or even the ultimate prize. Belgium has enough talent in their attack to unlock any defence in the world and that attack will be at full throttle with Kevin running the show.
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Replacing him with one of the more traditional midfielders and pushing him into one of the three forward positions will improve the overall balance of the team. An attacking trio of De Bruyne, Hazard, and Mertens while not physically imposing is full of movement and quick feet that can unlock defences.
Unless Martinez changes De Bruyne’s role and responsibilities, both he and Belgium’s World Cup campaign will come to a premature, yet, completely avoidable end.