SEVILLE: Medical tests for Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard ruled out any serious injuries on Monday, and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez said there is a 50/50 chance they will play in Friday鈥檚 European Championship quarterfinal match against Italy.
There had been concern about the extent of the injuries after both players had to be replaced in the second half of Belgium鈥檚 1-0 victory over Portugal on Sunday in the round of 16.
鈥淚 can communicate that the initial information that we have from the medical department is quite positive for both,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淓den and Kevin will remain with the squad.鈥�
He said neither player sustained 鈥渟tructural damage鈥� but cautioned there may not be enough time for them to recover in time to face Italy in Munich. He initially said it would be 鈥渧ery difficult to see them fully fit,鈥� though their progress would be evaluated daily.
鈥淲e hope that over the next few days we will recover them pretty quickly,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淣ow, the game is on Friday, so that could be probably too close.鈥�
De Bruyne, who turned 30 on Monday, is nursing a bruised left ankle after being tackled from behind by Portugal midfielder Jo茫o Palhinha early in the second half at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville.
Martinez said De Bruyne is 鈥渧ery strong mentally鈥� and was in a 鈥渧ery good mind frame.鈥�
鈥淥bviously we were all a bit anxious before we got the news from this morning鈥檚 scan,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淣ow he is relieved, he is very happy that he can be in the camp. We are all delighted that we can work with him.鈥�
The Manchester City playmaker had to leave the Championship League final after a facial injury sustained in a collision with an opponent. He had missed Belgium鈥檚 first match at Euro 2020.
鈥淚 just hope he can be fully fit for the next game, because when Kevin De Bruyne is on the pitch, we are a stronger team,鈥� Martinez said.
Hazard, who was marred by injuries with Real Madrid this season, was replaced late in the game against Portugal with a hamstring issue.
鈥淎fter the images today we鈥檝e seen that there was no structural damage,鈥� Martinez said.
The coach said reserve goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will have to leave the squad because of a knee injury sustained during the warm-up before Sunday鈥檚 match. He will be replaced by Blackburn goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
Belgium is trying to win a major tournament for the first time. The team finished in third place at the 2018 World Cup.