De Bruyne Allowed to Miss Belgium’s Next Nations League Game

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
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De Bruyne Allowed to Miss Belgium’s Next Nations League Game

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne in action during the UEFA Nations League - Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff, Wales, Britain, 11 June 2022. (EPA)

Kevin De Bruyne is one of three Belgium players given permission to go off early on holiday after their 1-1 draw with Wales on Saturday, coach Roberto Martinez said.

De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Meunier have all been allowed to skip the last of this month's four Nations League A Group Four matches, which is away against Poland in Warsaw on Tuesday.

"De Bruyne has given enough, so has Carrasco," Martinez said. "Meunier played two games in quick succession after not playing for three months. We can't force anyone."

However, De Bruyne, who had been critical about having to play in the Nations League this month after a long season with Manchester City, said he would have been happy to continue.

"I have played three matches for almost 90 minutes. Physically I am okay and I would have liked to play the last game against Poland, but it is the decision of the coach," he told reporters.

De Bruyne leaves after Belgium let slip a lead in Cardiff and allowed Wales to equalize in the 86th minute.

"It is a pity about the late equalizer," added De Bruyne. "We were in command at the beginning of the second half, but then we forgot to play football. But with all the changes in the team, it was not the worst performance."

"We lacked rhythm and all the players were fatigued, having already played many matches."

Martinez fumed about Wales' late goal, scored by Brennan Johnson and initially flagged offside but then awarded after a lengthy VAR check.

"A shocking decision," said the Belgian coach, adding that VAR wrongly reversed the linesman's decision.

"The lines don't seem to be parallel, the assistant was completely correct. We were robbed," he told Belgium´s VTM television.



Madrid Rests Stars and Still Whips Lowly Deportiva Minera 5-0 in Copa Del Rey

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
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Madrid Rests Stars and Still Whips Lowly Deportiva Minera 5-0 in Copa Del Rey

Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder #10 Luka Modrić runs back with the ball after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on January 3, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid rested most of its big stars and still hammered fourth tier Deportivo Minera 5-0 to reach the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Monday.

Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and goalkeeper Ferland Mendy all started on the bench as coach Carlo Ancelotti gave a debut to 17-year-old central defender Diego Aguado, who lined up alongside his elder brother Lorenzo.

Endrick, Brahim Díaz and Arda Güler all got rare starts up front for Real and the visitors took just four minutes to score when Federico Valverde volleyed home.

Eduardo Camavinga headed a second after 12 minutes and a slight deflection helped Güler get a third a quarter of an hour later.

Minera reached the last 32 after beating La Liga side Alaves in the previous round but there was no way back against a vastly superior club that has won this trophy 20 times, especially when Ancelotti gave Vinicius and Mbappé a second half runout.

Captain Luka Modrić added the fourth nine minutes into the second half and Güler got the fifth with two minutes remaining.