Overview
- Belgium secured a 2-0 friendly win over Croatia in Rijeka on Tuesday with Youri Tielemans scoring the opener and Romelu Lukaku sealing the victory in stoppage time.
- Lukaku came off the bench and scored his 90th international goal in the 96th minute after a Hans Vanaken pass, marking his first Belgium appearance in about a year.
- Coach Rudi Garcia praised the team’s organisation and the striker’s impact but warned that Lukaku’s comeback will be managed gradually because of recent hamstring problems and limited club minutes.
- The match served as a final tactical test before Belgium play one more warm-up against Tunisia in Brussels and then open World Cup Group G against Egypt in Seattle on June 15.
- Lukaku’s milestone boosts morale for players and staff, but careful workload management in the coming weeks will determine whether his short-term form translates into sustained availability at the World Cup.