Kompany’s Euro 2016 hopes in the balance

Belgium skipper Vincent Kompany may be fighting a losing battle in order to be fit for Euro 2016 according to former goalkeeper Wim De Coninck.

The Manchester City central defender lasted just ten minutes in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in Spain as Manuel Pellegrini’s team bowed out 1-0 on aggregate.

Kompany hobbled off early on and De Coninck, who was part of Belgium’s squad at Euro ’84 in France, says there is increasing reason to doubt that the 30-year-old will be able to regain his fitness by next month.

“The way he looked was more worrying than the last time. It is also worse because I think it is a new injury in his hip. I suspect a muscle tear.

It’s terrible for him this should go through,” he told Sporza. “The European Championships? I fear that this injury is too much, though he might still make it. But his body always gives a signal that something is wrong, nobody can find a solution.”

De Coninck feels that Kompany may struggle to put back-to-back performances together in France, given the short turnaround time between group games.

“He will be able to summon it again to return, but the question is whether this is sufficient to play a European Championship where you have three days to rest. That seems difficult, almost impossible,” he added.

Belgium open up against Italy on June 13 before facing the Republic of Ireland and Sweden in Group E. Even a half-fit Kompany is likely to be given the nod to travel with the squad, according to De Coninck.

“Kompany is really the leader of the Red Devils, the captain too. Even if there is the possibility that he is only one match to play, I think Marc Wilmots takes him,” he said. Belgium are 2.00 to win Group E while they are 12.00 to win Euro 2016 outright.