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s performance since stepping Maillot de foot up from his  Kevin De Bruyne: There are few players around who can shift a team through the gears as quickly and smoothly as De Bruyne a dynamic playmaker whose vision and intelligence are matched by incredible energy. He came back from injury in fine form for Manchester City during the spring. There are some who wonder whether another coach might make more of Belgium s vast talent pool than Wilmots, but the 47-year-old has done a good job of steadily improving the team s performance since stepping Maillot de foot up from his previous role of assistant in 2012. As a player, he was a national team stalwart for 12 years, earning 70 caps, and featured in Belgium s last European Championship campaign back in 2000 – when they co-hosted the tournament. Wilmots had a brief political career as a senator for the Reformist Movement after his playing career ended. One of Belgium s problems at the World Cup was a lack of fluidity on the ball but fielding Kevin De Bruyne centrally, backed Maillot de foot by the efficient and tigerish Radja Nainggolan, provides more urgency and there is trickery out wide from Eden Hazard and perhaps Dries Mertens. The biggest issue lies in defence, where Vincent Kompany s injury rules him out of the tournament and probably means a place for young Manchester City team-mate Jason Denayer, recently on loan at Galatasaray. Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen would doubtless be able to replicate their fine Tottenham partnership in the middle if needed, but will remain first-choice full-backs.