Belgium bench Kevin De Bruyne vs USA in bid for new beginning
Belgium face the USA on Monday night in Seattle's World Cup Round of 16 seeking a new beginning — and Rudi Garcia has benched Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku. The kevin bruyne gamble rewards the players who sparked Belgium's Senegal comeback, stockpiling star power for a possible second-half push.
Key Takeaways
- Jonathan Wilson writes Belgium want to shake off years of underachievement when they meet the USA in the Round of 16.
- Yahoo Sports reports De Bruyne, Doku and Lukaku are all benched — a shock lineup with distinct reasons behind each call.
- Garcia withdrew De Bruyne and Doku at the hour mark against Senegal before Belgium's 3-2 extra-time comeback.
- FOX analyst Cobi Jones flags Belgium's experience and Jeremy Doku's individual threat against a younger USMNT.
- Lukaku has been a super-sub all tournament and lacks the fitness for a full 90 minutes, per Yahoo Sports.
Why is Belgium searching for a new beginning?
As Jonathan Wilson argued in The Guardian, the whiff of unfulfilment still lingers around Belgium. The Golden Generation never converted extraordinary talent into a World Cup title — their 2018 semi-final run ended with a 1-0 loss to France after beating Brazil in the quarters.
Courtois, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier remain, but Wilson notes the 2026 squad is not the Golden Generation redux. A new wave featuring Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere may lack the same star wattage, yet Wilson insists they are still more than enough to give the US headaches.
Wilson draws a parallel to Belgium's 1986 World Cup, when coach Guy Thys dropped five senior players after early struggles and unleashed younger talents like Enzo Scifo. A victory over the USA, he suggests, could achieve something similar — not about how far Belgium go, but about shaking off the weariness that has dogged them since St Petersburg.
Why isn't Kevin De Bruyne starting against the USA?
According to Yahoo Sports, none of Belgium's three most recognisable attackers — Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku — will start against the United States in Seattle. It is a total lineup shocker, although each decision carries an obvious rationale.
De Bruyne and Doku had started every match until the Round of 32 against Senegal, when Garcia pulled both at the hour mark with Belgium trailing 2-0. Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukébakio came on instead, and Belgium completed a remarkable 3-2 extra-time win.
Yahoo Sports reports Garcia now wants to reward the players who helped Belgium advance. That leaves kevin bruyne and his fellow stars as bench weapons — firepower Belgium can only deploy if they stay close enough to the US to use it late.
Can Belgium's experience overcome USA's youth?
On FOX's The Herd with Colin Cowherd, US legend Cobi Jones expressed concern about Belgium's experience against a younger American side. He highlighted Belgium's Golden Generation as players who can cause individual damage, specifically naming Jeremy Doku as one to watch.
Jones also stressed that US players are professionals who focus on the game itself. Belgium's seasoned roster and individual quality remain a serious test for the younger squad they face in Seattle.
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What happens if Belgium's gamble backfires?
Yahoo Sports warns the bench plan creates an odd imbalance in Belgium's attack. Belgium will have to stay close to the US to unleash their benched firepower — and if the Americans pull ahead, questions will follow about why Garcia left so much talent unused in a knockout tie.
Wilson points to Diego Moreira as a symbol of Belgium's emerging identity. The 21-year-old's introduction against Senegal transformed Belgium's pace and invention, and his performance means Garcia need have no qualms about turning to youth if the starters struggle.
Either way, Monday night in Seattle is less a referendum on the old Golden Generation than a test of whether Belgium can finally write a new chapter — with or without kevin bruyne on the pitch from the first whistle.