The timing couldn’t be much better for Belgium. Zeno Debast returned to full training this week, and that changes the math for Rudi Garcia’s defense heading into the round of 32 against Senegal.
Debast hadn’t played a single minute at this World Cup. A leg injury from early May kept him sidelined through the group stage, but his MRI results came back positive and he rejoined the squad on Sunday. He’s 22 years old and plays for Sporting in Portugal. He was always going to be in the 26-man roster even if he couldn’t go right away.
The Red Devils won Group G without him. They beat New Zealand 5-1 in their last group match, but that game also saw Nathan Ngoy sent off against Iran in the scoreless draw before that. Brandon Mechele and Ngoy were the first-choice center backs early on. Then Arthur Theate stepped in against New Zealand after the red card.
What the lineup probably looks like
Garcia isn’t likely to overhaul the starting eleven that ran through the All Whites. Thibaut Courtois is locked in at goalkeeper. That part is easy.
The right-back spot switched against New Zealand when Timothy Castagne replaced Thomas Meunier. Maxim De Cuyper held down the left side. In midfield, Garcia keeps cycling through partners for captain Youri Tielemans. Nicolas Raskin got the nod over Amadou Onana against New Zealand, then made way for Hans Vanaken as the game went on.
The front four settled back into something familiar: Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard, and Charles De Ketelaere. Doku had missed the Iran game and De Ketelaere started instead of Romelu Lukaku, but both Doku and Lukaku came off the bench against New Zealand and scored late.
The Lukaku question isn’t going away
Belgian fans have spent this whole tournament arguing about whether De Ketelaere or Lukaku should lead the line. It’s a real debate. Lukaku is Belgium’s all-time leading scorer by a wide margin. But he played only four Serie A games for Napoli this season because of injuries. He looks better as a second-half weapon right now, and Garcia seems to agree.
Senegal snuck through as the eighth-best third-place team from Group I. They’re not here by accident, but they’re the kind of opponent Belgium should handle if the attack clicks. Having Debast back — even if he only plays 20 minutes off the bench — gives Garcia one more option in a knockout game where one mistake can end everything.
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