'It is a little bit boring' - Kevin De Bruyne admits repeated Wales games have become tedious
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Updated 22/09/2022 at 18:09 GMT
Belgium host Wales in Brussels on Thursday night in the Nations League, the ninth meeting between the two sides in the last ten years and fourth competitive encounter in the last 18 months. De Bruyne suggested ahead of the game that he had tired of what he perceives as a repetitive international fixture list, joking that half of his career had come against Rob Page's side.
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Kevin de Bruyne has admitted that repeated encounters between Belgium and Wales have begun to become "boring".
Roberto Martinez's side welcome Wales to Brussels on Thursday night for what will be the two nations' ninth meeting in the last 10 years.
The Nations League fixture is the fourth between the teams in the last 18 months alone.
While the pair memorably collided in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, De Bruyne suggested ahead of the latest encounter that he had tired of the fixture.
Joking that he had nearly 50% of his 91 international caps against Rob Page's side, the 31-year-old expressed his frustration at what he feels is a repetitive fixture list.
"I think half of my international career has been against Wales," the midfielder said.
"I don't know why. It is a little bit boring.
"I think it is 12 times I have played them - it is always the same teams."
Belgium sit second in Group A4 with two fixtures left, three points behind the Netherlands, having drawn the reverse fixture against the Welsh in June.
They conclude their group campaign against their neighbours in Amsterdam on Sunday evening.
De Bruyne is among a core group of leaders in a vastly-experienced Belgian squad that again looks likely to be among the contenders at the World Cup this winter.
Martinez could include as many as eight players with more than 90 caps in his eventual squad to travel to Qatar, and De Bruyne believes that the squad is already as together as it can be ahead of the tournament.
"I don't think it makes that much of a difference any more," De Bruyne explained when asked of the importance of the two fixtures in preparing for the World Cup.
"We have been playing with the same team for years and years.
"We will just try to finish the two games as best as possible and get ready for the World Cup."
Belgium, who finished third in Russia four years ago, have been drawn alongside Croatia, Canada and Morocco in Group F for the tournament.
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