Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterJeremy Dokus displays at Euro 2020 saw the young winger announce himself on the world stage.Aged just 19, the Belgian produced one of the tournaments breakout displays during his sides quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Italy.Fast forward to the present day and Doku have matured into one of Europes most exciting attackers, but he still reflects on just how important that night was for his career.Doku on his performance against Italy After easing through the group stage with three wins out of three as Denmark, Finland and Russia were all put to the sword, Belgium saw off Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal in the last-16 to set up a quarter-final against Italy.Following his start against Finland, the teenage Doku was named in Roberto Martnezs XI for the clash against the Azzurri and quickly repaid his managers faith. You may like I spoke with Pep Guardiola, and obviously you dont need a lot of convincing to go to Manchester City. He showed his interest in me, which made me comfortable signing Jeremy Doku on how his Etihad move came about Its our duty to take that burden off Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku Jeremy Doku opens up on taking on more responsibility with Belgium at the World Cup When he was my coach, he reminded me a lot of Pep Guardiola. Im not surprised hes been so successful at Bayern Munich Jeremy Doku opens up on working with Vincent Kompany Doku, then at Anderlecht, was a constant thorn in the side of the eventual tournament winners, winning a penalty which Romelu Lukaku dispatched just before the interval, while also setting the record for duels won in the tournament.That game changed my life, he admits to FourFourTwo. After that, people would come up to me on the street, they recognised me and I became more popular.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Sixteen months after the delayed Euros, Doku would only play a few minutes at the World Cup in Qatar, when he came on as a substitute in Belgiums final group stage match against Croatia, but was unable to help his side find the goal that would have seen them usurp the 2018 finalist in their group and make it through to the knockouts.Doku was, however, grateful for Martinez for selecting him at all.Following the Euros, I was injured for much of the season, he continues.I didnt play for the national team for a year, so for the coach to call me up after Id been injured and other players had played well, I was happy I was there.I didnt play a lot, as I would have liked only the last 15 minutes in the final game against Croatia, when I thought I did quite well.But he could have not taken me at all.TOPICSBelgiumWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
