Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has praised Romelu Lukaku’s impact after the striker scored in his team’s World Cup match against Egypt despite a lack of playing time throughout the 2025/26 season.
Lukaku, who has struggled with fitness and featured only briefly at club level this season, came off the bench against Egypt and netted Belgium’s only goal of the game.
“He is not yet ready to start matches,” Garcia said after the encounter. “We didn’t even expect him to be available for us at this stage. Sixty-four minutes throughout an entire season is far from ideal preparation for a World Cup.”
The Belgium boss emphasized that while Lukaku’s return is a major boost, the striker still needs time to regain full match sharpness and adapt to the intensity of tournament football.
Garcia also noted that Lukaku came close to scoring a second goal with a header during the match.
“I’m very happy for him, and the entire team feels the same way. Romelu is incredibly important to us,” the coach added.
Lukaku’s goal provided a positive sign for Belgium as they continue their World Cup campaign, with hopes that the experienced forward can play an increasingly significant role as the tournament progresses.
