Belgium are undoubtedly the most talked about team heading into the 2024 World Cup of Darts.
Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri van den Bergh made headlines last year after refusing to look at each other in their opener.
It later emerged Van den Bergh and compatriot Mike de Decker had lodged a formal complaint against ‘The Hurricane’.
Tensions haven’t simmered 12 months on with the current UK Open Champion revealing the pair are still not on speaking terms.
However, the duo put on a brave face to the media after surviving a scare in the opening round of the World Cup.
The Belgians insisted their issues would not affect their chances in this tournament and Huybrechts implored the media to stop their narrative.
Huybrechts adamant that the media create Belgian doubts
The lead-up to the World Cup has been tumultuous for Belgium.
Not only did ‘The DreamMaker’ confirm his relationship with his darts partner is still sour, but Huybrechts suffered a serious injury In May that required surgery.
Many questioned the threat Belgium would pose in this tournament given their problems, but Huybrechts gave a staunch defence when quizzed.
He told Darts Now: “The only question marks are from the media, and that’s it.
“I read media a lot and there’s a lot of things of ‘are they gonna get along? Are we gonna have this or gonna have that again?’. No, just stop it!”
He added: “We are here, we are playing for Belgium, we’re gonna do our best, we’re gonna get along on stage. Nobody has business what happens behind stages or what we do there. As long as we do it on stage and we perform, that’s what we do for Belgium.”
Belgium can find success at World Cup of Darts despite issues
The latter part of Huybrechts response suggests personal problems remain between the pair.
This will not affect the Belgian’s chances of glory in Frankfurt, however.
They overpowered a spirited Singapore side to place themselves in prime position to win the group and are putting on a united front.
Their feud was far more prominent 12 months ago on stage and they reached the semi-finals.
Only eventual champions Wales stopped them in a last-leg decider, but with Gerwyn Price withdrawing from the tournament, it could be the Belgian’s year to lift the trophy.