De Bruyne eyes final World Cup push and backs Doku to unlock Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne arrived at Belgium’s World Cup camp in Seattle ready to play, declaring himself fit ahead of the country’s opening group fixture against Egypt — and pointing to Jeremy Doku as the player most capable of carrying the team deep into the tournament.

Speaking at a press conference two days before the Egypt match, the 35-year-old was candid about where he stands in his career. Sixteen years and 119 caps into his international journey, De Bruyne is approaching this fourth World Cup with a different mindset to those that came before.

“It’s an honour for me to still be here after playing for the national team for about 16 years,” he said. “Hopefully I can play a good tournament and do something well for Belgium.”

The season leading into the tournament was far from straightforward. De Bruyne’s first campaign at Napoli — his debut in Serie A after a decade at Manchester City, where he scored 108 goals in 285 appearances and won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League — was disrupted by a severe thigh muscle lesion sustained in October. He did not return to action until 6 March.

Since then, De Bruyne has featured in 10 Serie A matches and four Belgium friendlies, including a goal in a 5-0 victory over Tunisia on 6 June. Training at the Seattle Sounders’ facility ahead of the tournament, he was measured but confident about his physical condition.

“I have done everything I could to get fit,” he said, “and I feel that way too.”

De Bruyne was equally clear-eyed about the bigger picture. Acknowledging he does not have another decade left in his career, he said he intends to enjoy every element of this tournament — a shift in perspective from the relentless win-at-all-costs mentality that defined his years at City.

“You are only focused on winning and the next match,” he reflected, “but after you have won, it is suddenly over.”

That maturity has not softened his competitive edge, but it has broadened his view of where Belgium’s best chances lie. He was effusive about Doku, the 24-year-old Manchester City winger who spent two seasons alongside De Bruyne at club level.

“Defending Jérémy for 90 minutes is impossible,” De Bruyne said. “He has also become more efficient over the past year. He has found more moments where he can choose his situations. To play a top tournament, we need a good Doku. In any case, he is already making my life easier.”

With Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois also in the squad, Belgium carry experience across the pitch. Whether that is enough to go further than previous generations of what became known as the Golden Generation remains to be seen — but De Bruyne, fit and focused, is determined to find out.