Gilles Verdez slams Rudi Garcia for benching Romelu Lukaku in World Cup draw

Rudi Garcia faced his World Cup debut in a 0‑0 draw against Egypt, prompting French journalist Gilles Verdez to lambaste his tactics on RTL, notably questioning why striker Romelu Lukaku was not started in the opening match of the tournament.

Rudi Garcia arrived on the Belgian bench accompanied by his blue‑white‑red staff, reflecting his French national colours. Their presence marked the start of his tenure with the Belgium national team.

Ahead of the tournament, Canal+ received permission to film an immersion report inside the federal training centre. The broadcaster captured the preparation routines of Garcia and his staff.

During a broadcast on RTL, Gilles Verdez declared, "Je n'en peux plus de Rudi Garcia. Il a l'impression d'avoir la science infuse." He criticised the coach’s self‑confidence as excessive.

Verdez further questioned the line‑up, asking, "Comment peut-on avoir Romelu Lukaku dans son effectif et ne pas l'aligner d'entrée de jeu ?" The journalist suggested the striker should have started the match.

Lukaku entered the game and, 23 seconds later, scored an own goal against Belgium. Verdez cited this incident as proof that the forward’s early involvement was necessary.

The draw against Egypt attracted considerable attention in France, with media outlets closely tracking Garcia’s decisions. French commentators highlighted the match as his baptism of fire at the World Cup.

Overall, the criticism underscored the pressure on Garcia to justify his tactical choices. The Belgian side’s performance remained under the microscope as the tournament progressed.