Rudi Garcia plans an attacking Belgium team built around Kevin De Bruyne at the 2026 World Cup, after the Napoli playmaker publicly disagreed with Antonio Conte’s defensive tactics. Garcia also outlined a careful plan for Romelu Lukaku’s return, while pointing to high‑level friendlies against Croatia and Tunisia as key preparation.
De Bruyne joins this Belgium camp after a difficult first year with Napoli, which included a long spell out. Garcia believes international football can restore De Bruyne’s rhythm and mood, especially in a more advanced role. The head coach also welcomed the chance to face Croatia, seeing the match in Rijeka as a serious benchmark.
Garcia, previously head coach at Napoli, expects De Bruyne to benefit from Belgium’s offensive
structure. De Bruyne criticised Conte’s conservative system after leaving Napoli, saying he had not been used in the preferred position. Garcia wants Belgium’s style to free De Bruyne in attack, while still demanding intensity without possession.
De Bruyne’s first Napoli season brought only 21 matches in all competitions, with about five months lost to a hamstring injury. The Manchester City playmaker started 16 times for the Partenopei, logging 1,360 minutes. During those appearances, De Bruyne scored five goals and added four assists, yet never felt entirely comfortable tactically.
Garcia stressed that mood inside the national side matters as much as tactics for Belgium. He highlighted De Bruyne’s attitude during qualification, when the midfielder travelled to Liege while still injured. That decision underlined commitment as Belgium booked their World Cup place, reinforcing Garcia’s view of De Bruyne as a central leader.
"The most important thing is that De Bruyne feels good, he said. I wanted the players to have fun again with the national team. That was one of the goals when I was appointed. We play offensive football, and that suits him. But we also have to be aggressive without the ball. We have already made progress in that. Kevin was there when we qualified for the World Cup in Liege, while he was injured at the time. That says enough about his motivation. "
Belgium World Cup build-up and key numbers
Belgium face Croatia on Tuesday and Tunisia on Saturday in their final warm‑up games before the World Cup. According to the Opta supercomputer, Belgium hold a 2.4% chance of lifting the trophy, slightly ahead of Croatia’s 1.6%. Garcia views these figures as context rather than pressure, with performances now the focus.
De Bruyne already holds a major place in Belgium’s history. The midfielder has 117 caps, the sixth‑highest total for the national team. De Bruyne has also scored 36 international goals, ranking second behind international and Napoli team‑mate Romelu Lukaku, who leads Belgium’s charts with 89 goals.
Key data from Belgium’s build-up and player records are shown below.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| De Bruyne 2025-26 Napoli games | 21 appearances, 16 starts, 1,360 minutes |
| De Bruyne 2025-26 Napoli output | 5 goals, 4 assists |
| Belgium caps – De Bruyne | 117 |
| Belgium goals – De Bruyne | 36 |
| Belgium goals – Lukaku | 89 |
| Lukaku 2025-26 club minutes | 7 appearances, all as substitute, 64 minutes |
| Opta World Cup win chance – Belgium | 2.4% |
| Opta World Cup win chance – Croatia | 1.6% |
Belgium World Cup hopes and Lukaku fitness
Lukaku’s preparation has been hit by several muscle problems across the 2025-26 season, limiting club involvement. The forward featured only seven times, all from the bench, totalling 64 minutes and one goal. Garcia is satisfied with Lukaku’s physical condition but plans to protect the 33‑year‑old through managed minutes.
"I have no worries about Romelu Lukaku, but he is not allowed to skip any stages. He is fit, but he has hardly played, Garcia added. I thought he was better than expected, and he is also very motivated. He can't start a match yet. At most, he will be a substitute, and that will probably happen. I can't estimate how he will evolve yet. He has come a long way, but I am extremely happy that he is there. We have to think for him, because Romelu would dare to get ahead of himself. "
Belgium World Cup test against Croatia
Garcia expects Croatia to provide a demanding rehearsal before the tournament begins. He praised Croatia’s record at recent major events and argued that facing such opposition offers a clearer measure of Belgium’s readiness. The coach also welcomed the chance to see De Bruyne and Luka Modric share the pitch again.
"They are a small country, but they are one of the best teams in Europe, he said of Croatia. They have shown that in recent years at all major tournaments. We wanted to meet a strong team, so Croatia are perfect. We qualified against good teams, but they were not as good as Croatia. It will also be nice to see strong players like De Bruyne and [Luka] Modric on one field. "
Garcia’s plans place De Bruyne at the centre of Belgium’s attacking style, with Lukaku brought back step by step. Tough fixtures against Croatia and Tunisia, combined with modest Opta predictions, frame a realistic build‑up. Belgium arrive with experienced leaders, clear tactical ideas and awareness of the level required.
