Belgium manager Rudi Garcia confirmed that Romelu Lukaku will be limited to 60 minutes in the second-round World Cup match against Iran on June 21. Garcia stressed the importance of preserving Lukaku's condition across the entire tournament rather than risking fatigue from a single match.
Garcia highlighted Lukaku's excellent display against Egypt, where the forward showcased his abilities for 30 minutes during Belgium's 1-1 opening draw. "He is magnificent in the box," Garcia said. "We need to be careful because we might be tempted to use him more than we should, but our goal is for him to play until the end of the tournament and not tire after one game."
The Belgium coach praised Lukaku as one of the tournament's top strikers and credited his presence with boosting team confidence. Lukaku had faced uncertainty about his World Cup participation due to missed training sessions but ultimately made the final squad selection.
This fitness management strategy may affect betting markets for scoring odds and performance props, as Lukaku's reduced minutes could limit his goal-scoring opportunities. His early substitution despite elite status reflects Garcia's focus on tournament longevity over immediate match performance.
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