More than The post-match France-Belgium was explosivethe Euro 2024 round of 16 decided by a sensational own goal by Vertonghen in the final minutes. The Bleus are through to the quarterfinals and the Red Devils are home, although the best – or worst, from a certain point of view – happened after the 90th minute in the basement of the Dusseldorf stadium. Adrien Rabiot and Romelu Lukaku (didn’t) talk about the transfer marketcompletely snubbing his own team, in the case of the Frenchman, or a possible buyer in the case of the Belgian. Kevin De Bruyne called a journalist stupidwhile the French coach Didier Deschamps exaggerated a bit with the celebrations. In short, everything is normal: right?
Rabiot and the icy silence on Juve
The first to open the dance was Rabiot, now officially without a team: “Do I still feel like a Juventus player? If I’m not under contract I can’t say I’m a Juventus player“, the Frenchman specified. “For the moment it doesn’t mean anything, only that as I said before I’m focused on the national team, we’ll see what happens. I don’t feel like talking about the market at the moment”. No message to Juve and the fans: “I think they know that I’m focused on the European Championship, my focus is 100% on this. Then I’m always in contact with the club, obviously, we’ll see what happens after the European Championship, something will surely happen”.
Lukaku Returns to Milan? The Answer
Also significant is the gesture of another footballer in the spotlight for market-related issues: Romelu Lukaku. Big Rom is in Napoli’s sights: Antonio Conte would like him in place of Victor Osimhen to relaunch the ambitions of the Neapolitans. However, Milan have also thought of him. And they asked Romelu about Milan in the mixed zone. A specific question, on a possible return to Milan where he won a Scudetto with Inter. The Belgian’s response was entrusted to a nod, very clear and eloquent: “No”. No landing at Milan, then. Whoever wants to understand, understand.
Storm over De Bruyne for insults
New Kevin de Bruyne’s buffer. The Manchester City playmaker had come under fire from Belgian public opinion for his gesture at the end of the match against Ukraine, when he had asked his teammates not to go and greet the fans. This time he has attracted criticism for insulting a journalist in the press room. “Why didn’t Belgium’s golden generation win anything?”the ‘irreverent’ question of a reporter. After the standard answer – “Do you think that France, England, Spain and Germany do not have a golden generation? Ok. Thanks”, the insult: “Stupid.” Clearly caught on camera.
Deschamps and the unbridled exultation
Piccolo uproar also over Didier Deschamps. The French coach has attracted some criticism, especially in Belgium, for his words in the heat of the moment after the hard-fought victory over the Red Devils. A thorny match, preceded by a little too much controversy, with the former Juve midfielder doing nothing – at the end of the match – to bring everything back to a more serene dimension. On the contrary. “We are in the quarter-finals,” he shouted in front of the TV microphones before launching a sensational jab: “We move on, they go home. These are good habits.” Did he have it in for Belgium? Most likely, yes. But maybe also for some other big exits.
