Belgium’s national team enters the World Cup round of 16 against the United States amid lingering tension between midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The rift dates back to 2013 when De Bruyne’s former partner, Caroline Lijnen, disclosed an affair with Courtois, saying, “Kevin had disappointed me, so I thought…”. Although both have since married and have children, their relationship remains cool, affecting team dynamics.
Both players are key to Belgium’s campaign: Courtois is set to appear in his 20th World Cup match, while De Bruyne is slated for his 124th appearance. Coach Rudi Garcia noted three additional players are in doubt for the Seattle fixture but did not name them. The squad also coped with internal disputes during the previous match against Senegal, where a heated argument between De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard required Romelu Lukaku to intervene.
Other notes: Belgium’s captaincy has rotated among Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Tielemans, never settling on De Bruyne or Courtois. Lukaku is highlighted as the team’s “X‑factor” after returning from injury. Courtois commented on the USA opponent, describing the contest as a “fifty‑fifty” match and praising the development of American football.