Vanaken says he and De Bruyne gel on field ahead of NZ clash

Hans Vanaken confirmed on Friday that his on‑field rapport with Kevin De Bruyne remains strong as Belgium prepare to meet New Zealand on Friday, 27 June. The two midfielders previously shared a full 90 minutes in Belgium’s 3‑0 win over Ukraine at Genk. Vanaken told reporters, “Oui, ça marche bien. Je pense qu’on peut se compléter sur le terrain,” while noting that Kevin De Bruyne currently plies his trade at Napoli. He added, “Avec notre QI foot, nous nous trouvons assez facilement… Nous faisons partie des Diables qui jouent aux cartes,” highlighting shared interests off the pitch. Vanaken, captain of Club de Brugge, suggested that Rudi Garcia is unlikely to drop Kevin De Bruyne from the starting eleven. He added that such a decision would “offend” Youri Tielemans, whom he mentioned in passing.

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In a previous encounter against North Macedonia, both Vanaken and De Bruyne started but Belgium’s attack stalled. Across 16 joint appearances, De Bruyne has recorded only one goal, assisted by Vanaken. The Belgium‑New Zealand fixture will be streamed live on Walfoot.be from 05:00 local time. Fans can follow the game as the two creative midfielders aim to improve their combined statistics.

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Vanaken hopes the partnership will translate into more decisive passes in the upcoming game. A strong performance could reinforce the duo’s reputation as Belgium’s most inventive midfield core. The result on 27 June will set the tone for the national team’s next assignments.