Rudi Garcia weighs midfield options as Amadou Onana struggles for form

Amadou Onana entered the Belgium national team’s training camp with a lingering calf injury that has limited his appearances for Aston Villa since early April, and his performance against Egypt in the United States highlighted his lack of sharpness. Coach Rudi Garcia now faces a decision on whether to retain Onana in the midfield for the upcoming matches.

Onana’s injury first surfaced in early April, restricting him to a handful of minutes before his departure for the United States. Garcia attempted to restore his fitness during the preparatory friendlies.

In the friendly versus Egypt, the large and strong midfielder struggled to receive even the simplest passes, and the tempo seemed to outrun him. His inability to stay in the flow undermined the expected ball‑winning role.

Garcia expects the central midfielder not only to win the ball but also to release it to the appropriate teammates, a task currently lacking behind Kevin De Bruyne. Youri Tielemans, despite his effort, provided one pass fewer than required.

With Romelu Lukaku unavailable, Belgium’s set‑piece options narrow to Brandon Mechele and Charles De Ketelaere, prompting Garcia to consider Hans Vanaken, a Bruges‑born player renowned for his aerial ability, as a midfield alternative. Garcia prefers a true ball‑retriever, which could push Tielemans down the pecking order.

Against Iran, a technically adept midfield is likely required, making Vanaken a plausible choice. Nicolas Raskin, a former Standard player, impressed when introduced, offering more forward passes than Onana, similar to Vanaken’s style.

The article proposes a midfield of Tielemans, Vanaken and Kevin De Bruyne as the optimal trio. Readers can vote on the preferred lineup until 19 June 2026.

The piece also notes that Anderlecht is contemplating a significant decision concerning player Cvetkovic.