July 2nd 2024.
In the latest Euro 2024 match, France emerged victorious over Belgium, securing their spot in the quarter-finals. However, the post-game press conference took a heated turn when Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri asked Kevin De Bruyne about Belgium's "golden generation." This term has been used to describe the talented players on the team, such as Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois.
De Bruyne was clearly not pleased with the question and responded by calling the journalist "stupid." He then walked off the stage, leaving Palmeri stunned and the media buzzing about the exchange. The video of their interaction quickly went viral, with many people criticizing De Bruyne for his reaction.
Palmeri, who was unaware of De Bruyne's insult at the time, later called the midfielder a "spoiled brat" for his behavior. He also reminded De Bruyne that the teams he mentioned as examples of "golden generations" had all reached a final at some point. This exchange shed light on the disappointment felt by the Belgian team, who have repeatedly underachieved despite their talented roster.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Palmeri revealed that he only found out about the insult when other journalists informed him of the viral video. He also clarified that De Bruyne did not say it to his face, but rather muttered it as he was walking away. Palmeri expressed his wish for De Bruyne to have said it directly to him, as he believes it says more about the player's character than his own.
De Bruyne, on the other hand, defended Belgium's defensive approach against France, who have a wealth of attacking talent. He explained that their plan was to play more defensively and try to counterattack when given the opportunity. However, their efforts were not enough, as a late own goal from Jan Vertonghen sealed their fate.
Despite the disappointment of being knocked out of the tournament, De Bruyne stood by their game plan and believed it was a good one until the last five minutes. He also acknowledged the quality of the French team and their ability to create chances, making it difficult for Belgium to defend. De Bruyne's frustration may have gotten the best of him in the press conference, but it is clear that his focus remains on the team's performance on the field.
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