Belgium Rolls the Dice, Benches Three Biggest Stars Against the United States
Belgium is making one of the boldest decisions of the World Cup, leaving Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Romelu Lukaku on the bench for Monday night’s Round of 16 showdown against the United States in Seattle. It is a surprising move considering all three are among Belgium’s biggest attacking threats and most experienced players.
Instead, Belgium is opting for a different starting XI built around fresh legs and a more balanced approach from the opening whistle. The decision puts immediate pressure on the starters to control the match before the trio of De Bruyne, Doku, and Lukaku are potentially unleashed later as game-changing substitutes.
If Belgium’s plan works, they could have three world-class players entering the match against a tired American defense in the second half. But if the United States grabs an early lead, questions will quickly be asked about why Belgium left so much firepower on the bench in one of the biggest matches of the tournament.
