The wife of forward Dries Mertens has opened up on an “awkward” Belgium squad get-together event following a heated dressing room bust-up.
Romelu Lukaku reportedly had to separate international teammates Kevin De Bruyne and Jan Vertonghen in the dressing room as cracks began to show within Roberto Martinez’s squad. It follows an underwhelming start to their World Cup campaign and a worrying two-goal group stage defeat against Morocco.
That result followed on from a highly unconvincing opening game victory over Canada, who were largely superior to the third-placed finishers from four years ago. While the Red Devils were among the favourites for that tournament in Russia, their ageing squad has seen their stock fall this time round.
Many of Belgium’s star players are no longer in the prime period in their careers with many now over the age of 30, while the dressing room fractures are also said to include Eden Hazard – whose career has regressed since swapping Chelsea for Real Madrid in 2019.
Belgium star De Bruyne had claimed in an interview that Martinez’s side were "outsiders" to win the tournament in Qatar, insisting that they were a group of players whose peak had passed. “No chance, we’re too old. I think our chance was 2018.
"We have a good team, but it is ageing. We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders.”
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Former Spurs defender Vertonghen did not appreciate De Bruyne's comments, which he used to mock the Manchester City star's influence in the final third. "I guess we attack badly because we are also too old up front," claimed the 35-year-old.
Martinez confessed his surprise at De Bruyne's assessment, insisting it was not beneficially. He said: "This is the first time I’ve heard those comments from Kevin. At a World Cup, the players have to speak to the media every day, 90% of it will be positive but there are always one or two lines that don’t fit into the context.
"A player is allowed to air their view. We’ve been together for six years now and comments won’t help us to win. Maybe it was a double-bluff. It’s what happens behind the scenes that matters."
Kat Kerkhofs, the wife of star Belgium forwards Mertens, has now explained the “awkward” squad barbeque meet-up at the team hotel at Hilton Salwa Beach, occurring just hours after the players had been involved in a heated situation in the dressing room.
Speaking on the Midmid Mondial podcast, Kerkhofs explained: “That was really awkward. The players were logically still very disappointed.” Before adding, for full context: “But I thought it was strange to read that there are tensions within the group.
“The next morning everyone said hello to each other with a kiss. They do all that. So I think they are all super sweet to each other.” Belgium conclude their group stage against Croatia on Thursday, knowing that only a win will guarantee their progression through to the Round of 16 knockout stage.
