Martinez: De Bruyne interview didn't distract Belgium

The Belgium playmaker said the team was too old.

Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui, left, and Sofyan Amrabat, right, defend against Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne during the World Cup group F soccer match between Belgium and Morocco, at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Roberto Martínez denied Belgium had been distracted by Kevin De Bruyne’s claim they are too old to win the World Cup but conceded his team played with fear in their surprise defeat by Morocco.

In a revealing interview with the Guardian published on Saturday, the Belgium playmaker said the team ranked second in the world had “no chance” of winning the World Cup because “we’re too old”.