Kevin De Bruyne has urged England supporters to appreciate the value of his Manchester City colleague, Raheem Sterling, and look beyond his goalless run at the World Cup.

De Bruyne has been in regular contact with his City team-mates in the England squad during the tournament and could face some of them when Belgium meet England in the third-place play-off tomorrow. “Raheem has done really well in the games I saw,” he said. “He hasn’t scored goals, but not everything in football is about goals.

“Raheem is a wonderful player. He’s an easy-going guy who gives everything for everyone, even with the criticism. Personally, I don’t understand why you would criticise people from your own country when all they are trying to do is win