Belgium defeated Croatia 2-0 in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday in Rijeka. Napoli forward Romelu Lukaku scored in the 96th minute, marking his first international appearance since September 2025 after recovering from injury. The goal was Lukaku's 90th for the national team. He has played only 64 minutes for Napoli this season due to a hip issue.
Belgium took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa scored in the 38th minute. Croatia's best chance in the first half came from captain Luka Modric, whose shot went wide just before the break. Osasuna striker Ante Budimir hit the crossbar around the 58th minute. Belgium sealed the win late with Lukaku's injury-time finish.
Coach Rudi Garcia opted to start Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere in the attacking role, keeping Lukaku on the bench until the final stages. Croatia, semifinalists in the 2022 World Cup, will face Slovenia in their final preparation match on Sunday before opening their tournament against England on June 17. Belgium will play Tunisia on Saturday in their last warm-up before facing Egypt on June 15. Modric played with a protective mask due to a facial injury.
Lukaku returns to score for Belgium after more than a year out, yet has played just 64 minutes for his club this season. His limited club involvement raises questions about his match fitness ahead of the World Cup. Belgium is relying on a player whose recent playing time is minimal to deliver in high-pressure games. The risk of depending on a largely inactive striker at this level is now on full display.
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