Kevin De Bruyne delivered an outstanding performance in his 100th international appearance as Belgium comfortably defeated Montenegro in a warm-up friendly for Euro 2024.
Right from the start in Brussels, the European giants took control of the game.
Their attacking trio of Yanick Carrasco, De Bruyne, and Lois Openda repeatedly breached Montenegro’s defense, creating numerous scoring opportunities.
Despite the relentless Belgian attacks, goalkeeper Matija Sarkic made several impressive saves, denying Carrasco and De Bruyne in the opening 15 minutes.
However, Belgium’s persistence paid off just before halftime when Openda pressured Sarkic into a mistake, allowing De Bruyne to calmly slot the ball into an empty net, giving Belgium the lead.
Domenico Tedesco made significant changes at halftime, introducing Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku. Both players displayed directness, frequently combining on the left flank to challenge Montenegro’s defense.
Their efforts paid off in stoppage time when Doku was fouled in the box, allowing the Gunners’ forward to secure a comfortable victory by doubling the lead.
Kevin De Bruyne, despite playing for only 45 minutes, emerged as the standout performer.
The Manchester City midfielder showcased his indispensability to Belgium, orchestrating attacks from an advanced midfield position.
Despite the struggles of strikers Openda and Carrasco, De Bruyne consistently provided opportunities to unlock Montenegro’s defence, culminating in a composed finish to break the deadlock.
Openda may feel disappointed with his performance, failing to convert several scoring chances.
Given the chance to stake his claim ahead of Romelu Lukaku, who was absent from the matchday squad, Openda failed to make a compelling case for inclusion in Euro 2024.
Belgium’s preparations continue with a friendly against Luxembourg on June 8 before they embark on their Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.
They will face Slovakia in their opening match on June 17 at The Waldstadion in Frankfurt.