Rudi Garcia admits Lukaku should have been a substitute after starting him

Belgian national team coach Rudi Garcia surprised fans by placing 33‑year‑old striker Romelu Lukaku in the starting eleven, despite having warned beforehand that it would have been preferable to keep him on the bench and introduce him later, a view that was confirmed by the match’s developments. Rudi Garcia is the coach of Belgium’s senior national side. He placed Romelu Lukaku in the starting eleven for the match. Romelu Lukaku is 33 years old. His selection in the starting lineup was described as surprising.

Rudi Garcia starts Romelu Lukaku, cites De Ketelaere fitness concerns

Before kickoff, Garcia said, “het was beter geweest om hem te laten invallen”. He explained that he believed Lukaku would have been more effective as a substitute. The match unfolded in a way that confirmed Garcia’s pre‑match comment. Lukaku’s performance reflected the earlier assessment that a substitute role would have been preferable.