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Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne’s World Cup campaign with Belgium hasn’t gone the way he’d hoped so far.

De Rode Duivels managed a 1-0 win over Canada, which could have ended in a draw if not for Thibaut Courtois saving Alphonso Davies’s penalty.

The same tie also saw the Manchester City player involved in a spat with Toby Alderweireld. The two played the full 90 minutes for their national team in their 2-0 defeat to Morocco in the following match.

Roberto Martínez’s men face Croatia later today and a defeat at the hands of the 2018 finalists will result in Belgium’s elimination from the ongoing FIFA tournament.

Former Club Brugge forward Gert Verheyen believes Belgium have a chance to overcome Croatia, but it won’t be an exciting clash. He also heaped praise on Croatia’s midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacić and Marcelo Brozovic.

Het Nieuwsblad had a chat with Verheyen and when asked whether Croatia’s threat comes from midfield, he pointed out the Manchester City star didn’t play his best against Morocco.

“And the flanks. In possession of the ball, Croatia play in a kind of 4-3-3, with Ivan Perisic often staying against his line at the front left. On the right they played with different players. With Vlasic, a real right winger. With Pasalic, a midfielder, who often plays central,” Verheyen said.

“In the last game, Kramaric played there, a striker, putting them in possession with two up front.

“When he lost the ball, however, he had to defend again, on the right. Sometimes he didn’t get there in time. Well, then Modric caught that. He is not averse to playing right centre and doing his defensive work there. That is also a difference with Belgium.”

“Against Morocco, the intention was to defend with two lines of four when losing the ball. Meunier sank to the defence, as right back.

“As a result, one of the two pockets had to play right centre to catch the emerging Mazraoui. That was Kevin De Bruyne, but he didn’t do his job. Modric does.”

Belgium will have their hopes pinned on De Bruyne to help them progress further in this edition of the World Cup.