Belgium Coach Addresses Jeremy Doku’s Performance Against Egypt

Rudi Garcia, the head coach of the Belgium national team, has explained the reasons behind Jeremy Doku’s underwhelming performance during the 1-1 draw against Egypt in the opening round of Group G at the 2026 World Cup.

In statements reported by Belgian media, Garcia noted that Doku was not at his best physically, having struggled with breathing issues since the team’s arrival in Seattle, USA.

“Although his condition has improved significantly, Jeremy is still affected by the health issues he faced, which reflected on his performance during the match,” Garcia said.

The Belgium coach discussed tactical adjustments made during the game, indicating that positional changes for some players were necessary due to difficulties in winning individual battles against Egyptian players.

“Doku was unable to penetrate Egypt’s defense from the left side, while Leandro Trossard performed well defensively and offensively on the right. Therefore, I decided to switch their positions during the match,” he explained.

Garcia also mentioned that he gave Doku a chance to play as a central striker after halftime to provide more attacking depth, emphasizing that the player performed well in that role.

Regarding the tight marking Doku faced from Egyptian players, Garcia remarked, “This is normal in such matches. The high temperature also contributed to a slower pace and made it difficult to execute quick attacks.”.

Concluding his remarks, Garcia assured that the coaching staff would work on preparing Doku optimally for their next match. “He may not have been at his best, but it is positive that we have five days before the next game, which is enough time for him to fully recover,” he stated.