'With pressure on, De Bruyne delivers a masterclass'

Kevin de Bruyne's position arsenic 1 of Belgium's "Golden Generation" and nan enduring value he delivers astatine elite level was underlined erstwhile much connected a thrilling, colourful nighttime successful Cologne.

Belgium transportation scars from erstwhile awesome tournaments erstwhile they fell short of expectations raised by nan world-class talent astatine their disposal - astir notably erstwhile they grounded to make it to nan knockout shape of nan 2022 World Cup successful Qatar.

And nan aged accusations were being dusted disconnected erstwhile much aft they slipped to conclusion successful their opening group crippled of Euro 2024 against Slovakia, classed 45th successful nan world.

This tournament's format has removed immoderate of nan jeopardy from nan group stage, giving Belgium room for manoeuvre aft that daze loss, and they knew a triumph against Romania was essential.

It was against this backdrop, and pinch nan unit on, that De Bruyne delivered a masterclass deservedly crowned pinch nan extremity that wrapped up a 2-0 triumph and gave Belgium's run lift-off.

The work carried by De Bruyne was emphasised erstwhile nan massed ranks of red-clad Belgium supporters roseate to nan Manchester City midfielder erstwhile he came retired to lukewarm up. It was a nighttime erstwhile he was being counted on.

If Youri Tielemans settled early nerves by driving debased past Romania keeper Florin Nita aft 73 seconds, it was 32-year-old De Bruyne who ensured Belgium were ascendant throughout.

The stadium was awash pinch colour and rocking to deafening sound good earlier kick-off - and a crippled befitting nan magnificent ambiance unfolded.

Cologne was dressed up successful reddish and yellowish each day, a connection connected nan large screens from nan awesome "Maradona of nan Carpathians" Gheorghe Hagi shown connected nan large screens earlier kick-off taking nan massed ranks of Romania fans to boiling point.

The lucifer was wild, open, fiercely contested and pinch De Bruyne rising supra each others.

The abstraction afforded by nan quality of nan crippled gave Belgium's playmaker room to operate. It was an opportunity he was not going to walk up.

De Bruyne group nan reside pinch 1 slaloming first-half tally that near Romanian players trailing successful his aftermath and Dodi Lukebakio conscionable incapable to return advantage.

If nan action was frantic, De Bruyne had nan value and composure to make it look for illustration he had much clip connected nan shot than anyone other - peculiarly successful a devastating 2nd half.

He brought a good prevention from Nita, flashed a transverse into nan six-yard area, past delivered a sumptuous walk of imagination and vision, cutting nan Romania defence isolated for Romelu Lukaku to use a composed finish.

Inevitably, fixed Lukaku's luck truthful acold astatine Euro 2024, nan Video Assistant Referee adjudged a hair's-breadth offside and nan tireless striker's hunt for his first extremity of nan tourney goes on.

No matter for De Bruyne.

He was not to beryllium denied and sewage nan extremity his capacity deserved erstwhile he shrugged disconnected nan attentions of nan Romania defence to flick a decorativeness past Nita pinch 11 minutes left.

Belgium's triumph was afloat merited. They played pinch intensity, verve and threat erstwhile Tielemans had struck, illustrating why they are classed 3rd successful nan world and stay touted arsenic 1 of this tournament's winners.

The rustle of losing to Slovakia had been flooded to time off Group E connected a weapon edge, pinch each 4 teams connected 3 points going into nan last information of games for nan first clip successful nan history of nan European Championship.

Belgium's capacity signalled their charismatic presence astatine Euro 2024 but it was nan show of De Bruyne that was astir eye-catching, nan sheer value of his contributions giving nan dishonesty to immoderate whispered suggestions he mightiness beryllium connected nan wane, pinch talk of a move to Saudi Arabia.

De Bruyne played successful a mode designed to elevate Belgium's self-belief earlier their last group crippled against Ukraine - and they must backmost up this triumph alternatively than return to aged ways.

It was different reliable nighttime for Lukaku, who was ne'er short of endeavour but was lacking successful bully luck erstwhile it mattered.

The mode successful which he vanished his disallowed extremity astatine slightest hinted astatine amended things to come, while nan guidance of this team-mates showed really hopeless they are for him to break his duck.

No specified worries for De Bruyne. He is nan people enactment who showed why he carries Belgium's hopes of going heavy into Euro 2024.