Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in their group stage opener after Lukaku came off the bench and forced defender Mohamed Hani to score an own goal. Garcia expressed confidence in the striker's form and immediate impact despite recent fitness concerns.
"Where he feels at home—in the penalty area—everything is going exceptionally well," Garcia said. "He scored in a friendly against Croatia, and today he scored again. His contribution is already excellent." The manager noted that Lukaku's body is still readjusting to competitive football.
Garcia indicated Lukaku's role may evolve as his fitness improves. "When he can start a match from the first minute—we will see. The story is beautiful because we didn't even expect him to be with us, but he continues to work hard and everything is going very positively where he feels comfortable, in the penalty area."
Lukaku's immediate match-winning impact raises Belgium's tournament advancement prospects. Markets may shift Belgium's odds higher if he maintains this form, with injury-dependent spreads adjusting based on his playing time per match.
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