Belgium coach urges calm after Lukaku scores in World Cup warm-up win

Belgium's national football team achieved a notable 2-0 away victory against Croatia on Tuesday, a result that provides a significant confidence boost ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The match, part of both nations' World Cup preparations, saw striker Romelu Lukaku score his 90th international goal, marking a triumphant return after a 12-month hiatus due to injury.

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For him, it's huge. He lives for goals. So the fact that he scored is something we're really happy about.

Lukaku's goal, scored in stoppage time, added gloss to a win that was built on a solid team performance. Belgium took the lead against the run of play through Youri Tielemans, who capitalized on a defensive error. The team demonstrated greater strength in the second half, controlling the game more effectively.

Coach Rudi Garcia expressed happiness over Lukaku's goal, stating, "For him, it's huge. He lives for goals. So the fact that he scored is something we're really happy about." However, Garcia also cautioned against overexertion, emphasizing the need to manage Lukaku's return carefully. "Still, we have to remain cautious. It can be dangerous to rush things. We need to bring him along step by step," he told reporters, acknowledging the player's history of hamstring injuries.

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You also saw the reaction of his teammates. They all went over to celebrate with him, and he deserves it.

Captain Kevin De Bruyne described the match as tight and closely contested, noting that the team tested various strategies without necessarily aiming for full implementation before the World Cup. "As a team, we were quite compact and didn't give away much. Here and there, we're still searching for a few things, and there are aspects where we can play better," De Bruyne commented.

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Our top scorer, our super top scorer, has scored again, and that's fantastic. That goal is good for his confidence. Still, we have to remain cautious. It can be dangerous to rush things. We need to bring him along step by step.

Belgium has another warm-up match scheduled against Tunisia before heading to the United States for their opening Group G match against Egypt on June 15. The team aims to approach the tournament positively, acknowledging that challenges will arise during the World Cup.

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I think it was a tight, closely contested match.