Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has spoken warmly about facing Egypt in Monday's World Cup opener, highlighting his long-standing respect for forward Mohamed Salah.
Speaking at a press conference published by the Royal Belgian Football Association, De Bruyne emphasized that while on-pitch rivalries remain intense, personal friendships endure off it as Belgium prepares for a crucial Group G encounter.
'Nice to see Mo again' De Bruyne and Salah have spent a decade on opposite sides of the Premier League, but their connection extends beyond the pitch.
"It&rsquo;s nice to see Mo again, and Omar Marmoush as well," De Bruyne said. "I&rsquo;ve played against Mo for almost 10 years. Our kids also went to the same school. I saw him from time to time and he is really a nice guy. It will be nice to see him and compete like old times. Egypt is going to be tough because of the way they play."
The fixture also brings a swift reunion for De Bruyne and Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush, who played together at Manchester City during the 2024&ndash;25 season before De Bruyne's move to Italian side Napoli.
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A final global stage? Now a veteran leader of the Belgian squad, the 34-year-old midfielder reflected on the significance of this tournament to his international career.
"It is an honour for me to still be here after playing for the national team for about 16 years, so that means I&rsquo;ve done something good," he said.
De Bruyne suggested that this tournament could represent his final appearance at a World Cup, adding emotional weight to the Belgian campaign.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia also sounded a note of caution ahead of the fixture. Garcia has first-hand knowledge of the Egyptian captain, having previously managed him during their time together at Roma.
"Egypt are one of the best teams in Africa," Garcia told FIFA.com. "I know all about Mo Salah... We&rsquo;re obviously very aware of what they can bring."
Head-to-head record Historically, Egypt hold a slight advantage in recent meetings between the two nations.
According to Reuters, Egypt secured a 1-0 win in 1999 and a 4-0 victory in 2005. While Belgium responded with a 3-0 win ahead of the 2018 World Cup, Egypt claimed the spoils in their most recent encounter, winning 2-1 in a November 2022 friendly in Kuwait.
Egypt face Belgium at 22:00 BST on Monday, 15 June, in Group G. The group also features Iran and New Zealand in this expanded 48-team tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Photo Credit: Kevin De Bruyne&rsquo;s official page

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