Kevin De Bruyne has claimed Belgium have ’no chance‘ of winning the 2022 World Cup.

The Red Devils opened up their campaign with a nervy 1-0 victory over Canada and can seal a spot with victory over Morocco later on Sunday. They will go through as group winners if the game between Croatia and Canada ends in a draw.

However, Belgium are seen as a fading force. While De Bruyne is still performing at an incredibly high level, previous star figures Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku have both endured a tough few years and old heads Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen still feature in defence.

Roberto Martinez’s side managed third place in 2018 and were defeated by eventual champions Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter finals, and De Bruyne bluntly admitted Belgium’s best days are behind them.

Asked if they could win the World Cup a few weeks before the tournament kicked off, De Bruyne told The Guardian: “No chance, we’re too old.

“I think our chance was 2018. We have a good team, but it is ageing. We lost some key players. We have some good new players coming, but they are not at the level other players were in 2018. I see us more as outsiders.”

Belgium had their backs to the wall for the majority of their win over Canada and had Thibaut Courtois to thank them for keeping them level as the Real Madrid goalie saved a penalty from Alphonso Davies.

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