Overview
- Belgium brought Romelu Lukaku on in the 66th minute on June 15 and his presence forced an Egyptian own-goal within seconds to turn a likely loss into a 1-1 World Cup draw.
- Coach Rudi Garcia told reporters that Lukaku “can’t start a game” because he played only about 64 minutes at club level this season and needs time to rebuild match fitness.
- Belgium began the opener with Charles De Ketelaere as the lone striker, a tactical choice that left Lukaku as a planned high-impact substitute.
- Lukaku missed most of the season with a hamstring problem, declined surgery, and has had strained relations with Napoli, so a strong World Cup could revive his transfer value and create exit options for the club.
- Lukaku is Belgium’s record scorer with roughly 90 goals in about 126–127 caps, and his bench role highlights Belgium’s shift from its Golden Generation as the team balances veteran stars with younger players ahead of the Iran match.