Chelsea plot to re-sign former player

According to the Daily Star, Chelsea are looking at re-signing former attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian and Wolfsburg playmaker is currently enjoying a great season in the Bundesliga, with 11 assists and 6 goals in 19 appearances.

The 23-year-old joined Chelsea from Belgian side Genk in 2012, yet rarely played for the London side, and was loaned to Werder Bremen during his spell in England.

After only making 3 appearances in a 2 year spell with the Blues, De Bruyne joined Wolfsburg last year for £18 million.

Interest from English clubs

The former Chelsea man’s form this season has attracted interest from both Arsenal and Manchester United, who apparently are both looking at bringing him in this summer.

But there have been reports from his home country of Belgium that Chelsea look to be getting themselves in the running to sign the player.

In response to all this interest, Wolfsburg are looking to extend his contract to fend of the English clubs.

Wolfsburg’s sporting director Klaus Allofs said: “Kevin is still tied to 2019.

“But if a player develops extraordinary, it may be that we sit down together and see the conditions.”

Financial fair play

The Bundesliga side could struggle with offering De Bruyne a new deal due to Financial Fair Play regulations, after the signing of Andre Schurrle from Chelsea for £22.5 million.

De Bruyne’s agent has also played down talk of a return to England.

“De Bruyne is feeling very good. After a difficult period at Chelsea he is finally playing continuously.”

With receiving week-in week-out first team football with a club that seems to be on the up in the Bundesliga currently sitting in 2^nd place, it doesn’t seem likely that De Bruyne will want to return to the Premier League any time soon.

Brave USA bow out of 2014 World Cup after being beaten by bombarding Belgium

Belgium qualify for the quarter finals after match with USA goes the distance

De Bruyne celebrates after finally beating spirited Howard in the USA goal

‘I believe’ was the chant and expressed opinion by many USA fans before their clash with Belgium yesterday in Salvador, which did also appear to be expressed by the players as well who produced a hugely courageous and gutsy performance to take the match into extra time.

As expected Belgium were relentless in the match, finishing with 38 shots and 27 shots being on target, compared to USA’s total of 14 shots, and with a staggering 19 corners throughout the 120 minutes. Much praise was being shown for the USA and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard who really was the main reason that this match did go the distance, making save after save, really frustrating Marc Wilmots’ men. Altogether the Everton keeper made 16 saves, which was a World Cup record of most saves made in a game since records began in 1966, in what may prove to be the last World Cup game of his career.

Other USA players also put in a real shift, such as Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones who did not stop working, which may be one of the reasons why USA actually did finish with 52% possession. Others such as 20 year old full-back DeAndre Yedlin, who came on for Eddie Johnson in the 32nd minute also impressed and did show that the future for the USA national team looks good with such young talent. But despite this, Belgium’s class finally shined through and they managed to make it through to the quarter-finals, thanks to another footballer who was wearing an Everton shirt this previous Premier League season.

Divock Origi started the game up-front for Belgium and again did impress, showing unstoppable pace and endless bags of confidence, but as soon as the game finished 0-0 after 90 minutes, Wilmots gave the young striker a rest and brought on a fresh Romelu Lukaku, who really made an impact and showed his worth. In the 93rd minute, Lukaku easily brushed off Matt Besler, who too had played like a warrior throughout the match, then ran towards goal and played it square to Kevin De Bruyne, who took a touch and finished past Howard nicely to finally put Belgium in front. Then in the 105th minute, roles are reversed as De Bruyne turns creator and plays a pass into Lukaku, who rifles a shot past Tim Howard, the game looked surely done and dusted.

But then in the 107th minute, Michael Bradley plays a chipped ball to Julian Green, who had came on at the end of the first half of extra time for Alejandro Bedoya, and Green volleys it home very cutely past Thibaut Courtois, the game was back on.

USA really had Belgium on the back foot for the final 13 minutes of extra time as they desperately searched for an equaliser to take the game to penalties. One of their efforts came from a brilliantly planned and coordinated free-kick, which resulted in Courtois having to make a fantastic save denying USA striker Clint Dempsey. The USA players showed fantastic fitness and desire, but so did the Belgians, who held on for a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Argentina, who left it late to defeat Switzerland earlier that same day, which does appear an extremely tasty tie.

So USA are going home, but they can with their heads held high after another brave campaign. Even though their was no Hollywood ending, one thing is for sure, even though they are bowing out in the first knock-out stage, Football as a sport is really growing in America, and the future of their national team looks bright, Jurgen Klinsmann is really working wonders in the states.

 

 

Wilmots’ Red Devil’s frustrated but still get the three points in their first game

Belgium were truly frustrated in their first group game against Algeria after going 1-0 down in the first half, and being unable to play their standard attractive pass and move style of football, but showed good character and belief as they still managed to get 3 points by winning 2-1, through goals from Fellaini and Mertens.

The Algeria starting XI included a couple of familiar faces, such as Tottenham youngster Nabil Bentaleb, who was the youngest player on the field, and Valencia forward Sofiane Feghouli. Meanwhile Belgium boasted a squad filled to the brim with Premier League stars; such as Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany, Moussa Dembele, Nacer Chadli, with Adnan Januzaj, Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini on the bench. Also in the squad was former Chelsea midfielde Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who spent this previous season on loan at La Liga winners and Champions League Runner up’s Atletico Madrid. So many imagined an easy win for Marc Wilmot’s men.

The game began in a patient manner, with Belgium in the first 15 minutes really holding onto possession and playing patient football which just lacked that killer instinct, which saw Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku rarely get a touch of the ball. In the opening stages Algeria were hoping to get chances from mistakes being made by members of the Belgium squad, and mostly pose a threat on the counter-attack.

Although, it was Algeria that opened the scoring from the penalty spot as a ball played into the Belgium box was not anticipated by Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, who then ended up pulling down Sofiane Feghouli. Feghouli takes up the responsibility of taking the penalty himself and calmly sends Courtois the wrong way and Algeria take a shock lead.

Belgium react to this by increasing the speed of their build-up play and play more frequent passes into feet, trying to find a way through. What follows is a series of shots from distance from the Belgium players who seemed frustrated and desperate to find an equaliser before half-time, none of which really challenge Algeria Goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli.

Belgium have their best chance in the 43rd minute as good play from Hazard leads to some rare space for the Chelsea star, who then shows brilliant feet and feeds through Nacer Chadli who shoots straight at M’Bohli, this turned out to be the last real chance of the half.

Belgium start the second half with Dries Mertens replacing Nacer Chadli who had gotten himself booked in the first half. Mertens does instantly make an impact as he manages to run past a few Algerian defenders, he then played a ball in to the box but was unable to find Lukaku.

Some of the Belgium stars such as Hazard so far were unable to really show their ability as they were continued to be halted by the stubborn Algerian team. Hazard was also finding himself on the receiving end of some strong defending as he was being fouled on a few occasions going forward.

Algeria then nearly doubled their lead from a rare corner, as Medjani makes contact with the ball with his head, but it just goes wide of the post. It is then after this corner that Marc Wilmots brings off Romelu Lukaku and brings on 19 year old Lille forward Divock Origi.

About 15 minutes into the second half, the game continued to show why there was not much play going on, as it proved to be a foul-ridden game, with players from both teams being penalised on many occasions.

Both managers try and change the game with some substitutions. Marouane Fellaini came on for Moussa Dembele on the 64th minute for Belgium’s third and final change, and shortly afterwards, Algeria manager Vahid Halilhodzic brings on Islam Slimani who replaces Soudani. Then straight afterwards Origi breaks through the Algerian defence but M’Bohli saves well.

Then just before the 70th minute, Kevin De Bruyne picks up a loose ball, whips it into the box and second half substitute Marouane Fellaini meets it well with a header, which finds the back of the net, glancing off the bottom of the crossbar which left M’Bohli with no chance, the score was 1-1.

Shortly afterwards Algeria make another substitute, as Lacen comes on for Mahrez. But with 10 minutes to go, a good tackle in Belgium’s half by De Bruyne allows Hazard to run up the pitch on the counter-attack, he keeps going and makes a wonderfully timed pass to Dries Mertens who finishes it convincingly to put Belgium 2-1 up.

Three minutes later, Belgium full-back Toby Alderweild finds himself on the right, he plays an invitingly ball in which Fellaini again meets well with, which forces M’Bohli to make an impressive save. This turns out to be the real last chance and Belgium come fro behind to earn the three points.