Belgian defender Vincent Kompany recovers his place in the semi-finals of the World Cup

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – When Vincent Kompany left the field without waiting to be replaced during a friendly against Portugal, the Belgian fans feared the worst

. two years after an injury to the groin has put it out for the European Championship?

Do not worry. Kompany knows a thing or two about overcoming adversity in a stellar career that has been disrupted by multiple injuries.

"The fact that I am here today, despite so many injuries, makes me stronger" A one-year defender said that Belgium had beaten Brazil 2 to 1 to get his place in the semifinals of the World Cup for the first time in 32 years

. Belgian coach Roberto Martinez had plenty of reasons to include Kompany in his team of 23 players for Russia, despite the cloud of injuries that weighed on him since the start of the game. June 2 friendly against Portugal.

"There is experience … there is a little know-how, there is communication in the field", explained Martinez to those who were sweating. "I think this understanding – knowing what is expected in big matches and big moments is important not to lose any of these players."

Martinez also knew that the Belgian draw in Russia meant that he could afford to leave Kompany. At the start of the World Cup, the captain of Manchester City barely missed Belgium's 3-0 win over Panama and beat Tunisia 5-2.

The Kompany tournament was eventually replaced by England in the 74th minute. It was a gentle reintroduction in a training session between two teams already qualified for the knockout phase. Both teams knew that a defeat could be a good result for the rest of the tournament, as this would make them potentially easier for the final.

He looked a little rusty in the thrilling 3-2 win over the return. Japan in the round of 16, but was its normal compound against Brazil, giving the example to the rear as Belgium fought Neymar and co. Kompany may have been lucky enough to escape without a penalty for a challenge against Gabriel Jesus, but also showed his composure by calmly controlling a ball on his chest and clearing it after goalkeeper Thibaut . Courtois saved a shot by Douglas Costa and the ball bounces into the congested penalty area

He showed the example since his debut in the Belgian capital, Brussels, where he was born to a Congolese father and of a belgian mother. The teammates of the youth teams would be afraid to go to the locker room after losing, fearing a reprimand from Kompany.

This desire led him to Anderlecht and soon earned him a place in the Bundesliga club of Hamburg. After two seasons in Germany, Mark Hughes signed for Manchester City in 2008. Kompany is a club captain and has won the Premier League three times.

The list of injuries he suffered is painful: toe, Achilles tendon, calf. muscle, knee, hamstrings, thigh and groin. He has missed more than 100 club matches over the years as well as Euro 2016, where the talented Belgium team only managed to reach that quarter-finals.

Two victories are now awarded to him and this would be the first title of Belgium. The best result of the country was reached in the semi-finals in 1986, where he lost 2-0 to Argentina.

Kompany will lead the Belgian defense against France's quick attack thanks to his relentless determination.

mentally strong and have inner strength to return to this level every time, "he said. "So today I am here, but it is the result of so many months and hours in the gym.