European Football Championship - Criticism of coach Tedesco after Belgium's exit
Düsseldorf (dpa) – The future of Domenico Tedesco as Belgium's National Coach is not up for debate, but the opposition to him is growing following Belgium's elimination from the European Championship. Former Belgian national players have spoken out critically about Tedesco's decisions and his demeanor. "I doubt the future with Tedesco," Marc Degryse wrote in "Het Laatste Nieuws": "His decisions were too complicated, and he didn't shine in his demeanor."
Former Belgian national coach René Vandereycken also criticized Tedesco's player selection for the European Championship in "Het Nieuwsblad": "The selection of Witsel and Meunier was wrong. And how many goals did Charles De Ketelaere score in his five minutes?"
Unlikely separation from Tedesco
Tedesco's contract with the Belgian Football Association runs until the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. According to media reports, there are no plans at the association to part ways with the Italian-German coach. The players also kept their criticism to a minimum. Only goalkeeper Koen Casteels hinted at a somewhat "cautious" tactic being chosen.
Captain Kevin De Bruyne, however, defended Tedesco: "The Belgian coach is not an issue," De Bruyne said after the disappointing performance from both teams on Monday in Düsseldorf. "I understand that people want us to storm forward with full steam, but that was the plan of the coach and the team. And I think we followed the plan quite well."
Belgium had already failed to advance from the group stage at the 2022 World Cup. After the early elimination, De Bruyne reacted with disappointment.
The 33-year-old did not want to comment on his future with the national team at first: "I have to process that first," the offensive player from Manchester City said, but he hinted that he was not yet thinking about looking back: "For me, nothing changes. I just want to keep going like before. I'm very satisfied with how I feel physically and mentally."
- Despite the growing criticism, Domenico Tedesco's contract with the Belgian Football Association extends until the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- The European Football Championship saw Belgium, led by Tedesco, elimination from the competition, sparking criticism from former Belgian national players and coaches.
- In an article for Het Laatste Nieuws, Marc Degryse expressed his doubts about the future of Tedesco, criticizing his decision-making and demeanor during the tournament.
- René Vandereycken, former Belgian national coach, also voiced his criticisms in Het Nieuwsblad, particularly regarding Tedesco's player selection and the minimal impact of Charles De Ketelaere.
- Despite the criticisms, the Belgian Football Association and the players have shown no intention of parting ways with Tedesco.
- In Düsseldorf, Belgium faced a Headwind in their Round of sixteen match against France, which ended in an elimination from the European Championship.
- Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium's captain, defended Tedesco and mentioned that they were following the coach's plan, despite the team's disappointing performances.
- Following the team's early elimination in the European Championship, De Bruyne expressed his disappointment but showed no signs of wanting to leave the national team, expressing a desire to keep moving forward.
