Belgium Aims to Overcome Egypt Draw with De Bruyne-Lukaku Partnership Against Iran
Belgium’s World Cup opener against Egypt in Group G ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw on Monday in Seattle, raising concerns about the Red Devils’ performance. After a lackluster first half, the team struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organized Egyptian defense.
Rudi Garcia’s side, which had been unbeaten in their previous 13 matches (9 wins, 4 draws), fell behind early when Emam Ashour scored in the 20th minute. Despite having the majority of possession, Belgium could not create significant scoring opportunities before halftime.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Belgium created two clear chances and equalized in the 66th minute when Romelu Lukaku’s introduction led to an own goal by Mohamed Hany just 22 seconds after he entered the pitch.
This opening match has raised questions for Garcia, particularly regarding the team’s heavy reliance on Jeremy Doku for offensive creativity. The lack of variety in their attack was evident during long stretches of the game.
Over-Reliance on Jeremy Doku
© Iconsport / MB Media.
Before the match, Doku was expected to be Belgium’s primary attacking threat following a standout season at Manchester City. Known for his one-on-one capabilities, he played a crucial role in City’s title challenge last season.
Despite Arsenal winning the Premier League, Doku’s contributions during qualifiers solidified his status as a key player for Belgium, where he was directly involved in seven goals and created 24 chances—more than any other European player during that period.
However, Egypt effectively neutralized Doku’s impact by limiting his space and opportunities. He completed only three of nine dribbles and lost possession 20 times, managing just six touches inside the opposition area—the highest among Belgian players that night.
The Need for De Bruyne-Lukaku Partnership
© Iconsport / Belga.
The potential partnership between Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku is crucial for Belgium as they prepare to face Iran. Both players are key figures from Belgium’s golden generation that finished third at the 2018 World Cup. Despite injury setbacks during their domestic campaigns last season, their chemistry remains significant.
De Bruyne’s transfer from Manchester City to Napoli aimed to rekindle his understanding with Lukaku. However, injuries limited their time together to just six minutes at Napoli. With both now fit, it would be logical for them to start together given their history of success—combining for 18 goals in 82 appearances for Belgium.
Lukaku’s Starting Chances Against Iran
© Iconsport / Belga.
Lukaku has come off the bench in his last three World Cup appearances but made a decisive impact against Egypt after entering as a substitute. His performance may bolster his case for a starting position against Iran, especially with Charles De Ketelaere nursing an injury after playing as a false nine.
While reports indicate that De Ketelaere has resumed training, Garcia might lean towards Lukaku’s proven experience and goal-scoring record—90 goals in 127 international matches—over an alternative still regaining full fitness.
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