Europa League
Vanhaezebrouck warns Garcia of size risk with Raskin vs Iran
Former Anderlecht coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck cautioned Belgium manager Rudi Garcia that deploying Nicolas Raskin against Iran could leave the side short on aerial presence, especially if the team substitutes Amadou Onana and omits Hans Vanaken, he wrote in the .
Jérémy Doku, the Manchester City winger, was ruled out 24 hours before kickoff, removing Belgium's primary attacking threat. His absence forces Garcia to reshuffle the offensive lineup.
The defensive pairing of Nathan Ngoy and Brandon Mechele, praised after the Egypt match, satisfied the back line, but the midfield showed worrying signs. Youri Tielemans was not at his best and Amadou Onana lost possession repeatedly, becoming the first player to be substituted.
Nicolas Raskin, promoted to replace Onana, displayed greater composure and nearly provided an assist for Romelu Lukaku's potential winning goal. His display sparked debate about a possible Raskin‑Tielemans partnership alongside Kevin De Bruyne.
Vanhaezebrouck argued that Hans Vanaken would be a more suitable choice, recalling Garcia's successful use of Raskin against Egypt. He warned that without Vanaken, the Belgian side could lack the necessary height in set‑piece situations.
He noted that only the two central defenders remain for aerial duels, and Nathan Ngoy is not the tallest, while players such as Meunier, Romelu Lukaku or De Ketelaere also lack height. Against Iran, which relies on long balls, crosses and set‑pieces, this deficiency could be decisive in the closing stages.
Despite standing 1.78 m, Nicolas Raskin possesses good balance that allows him to surprise in dead‑ball situations, a quality often undervalued. His Liège roots underline his resilience despite the perceived lack of centimeters.
The Belgium‑Iran clash will be streamed live on Walfoot.be from 21:00, giving fans a chance to see whether Garcia heeds the warning. Garcia's final lineup will reveal how he balances the height concerns with tactical flexibility.