Kevin De Bruyne is carrying the can for Belgium’s World Cup meltdown.
The Manchester City midfielder’s increasingly erratic behaviour is being viewed as a clear sign that there are growing rifts in Roberto Martinez’s squad after a fortuitous 1-0 win over Canada was followed by a shock 2-0 defeat at the hands of Morocco.
De Bruyne performed well below his usual standards in both games and has cut an unhappy figure in Qatar. When he was asked in the build-up to the clash with Morocco whether the Red Devils could win the World Cup, he tellingly answered: “No chance - we’re too old.”
His words were not well received by his team-mates. Seven of the team who started against the Moroccans were aged 30 or over - including De Bruyne - and Martinez also used 35-year-old Dries Mertens as a substitute.
When former Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen, 35, was asked to explain the loss to the Africans, he replied in a sarcastic tone: “We probably attacked badly because we are too old that must be it now, surely?”
De Bruyne has been heavily criticised in Belgium for his attitude. Former international Gilles De Bilde said: “Look at his (De Bruyne) argument with Toby against Canada in front of the cameras.
“It's things that come into play, things that make him look difficult. If you look at the photo from before the game, when Lukaku addresses the group, he is the only one who does not embrace his team-mates.
“He is the best player in this squad, but he frustrates the others and is frustrated because it is not working himself. That's not a good sign.”
De Bruyne hasn’t always joined in the group huddle with the same togetherness shown by the rest of his team-mates.
But the Belgian public want an explanation why a team that came home from Russia in 2018 with the bronze medal after beating England in the third-place play-off are failing to deliver in the desert.
Fingers are being pointed at De Bruyne. Belgium now have to beat group F leaders Croatia in their next game to have any hope of qualifying for the last 16.
But keeper Thibaut Courtois illustrated the problems Martinez needs to address by refusing to accept the blame for Morocco’s opening goal.
Courtois had been beaten by a Hakim Ziyech free-kick from an outrageous position wide on the left in first-half injury-time, but the Chelsea winger’s celebrations were cut short by an offside decision against Wolves defender Romain Saiss. When Huddersfield reject Abdelhamid Sabiri attempted a similar effort in the second half, the Real Madrid No 1 was beaten after reacting too late.
Courtois said: “I had the feeling that Ziyech would place the kick there and fortunately the goal was disallowed. We were all on the same page at that stage.
“When Morocco did score their first goal it all started with a mistake when their player was stood with his back to goal in the corner and (Thomas Meunier) made a foul.
“If a ball goes through the zone at the near post it is deadly for a keeper - and frustrating. That is for the defenders to defend properly. It has nothing to do with a man on the post.
“One of the defenders must kick or head that ball away from there - not just stand and watch. That shouldn't happen twice. It was a stupid goal.”
