INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Belgium’s Jérémy Doku will miss the World Cup match against Iran on Sunday due to illness.
The Manchester City winger was officially ruled out by the Red Devils on Saturday ahead of the match at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area.
Coach Rudi Garcia provided limited details regarding Doku’s health, although it is reported that he has been dealing with a respiratory issue for at least two weeks.
“He can’t play, so we’ll have to go on without him,” Garcia stated through an interpreter in his pre-match press conference. “I found out late Friday that he would be unavailable.”
“I won’t put players on the field if they are not medically fit to play. They may not always be 100% physically, but medical fitness is what’s most important. Nevertheless, I’m completely confident that we’ll be successful tomorrow.”
The quick-footed Doku had started Belgium’s World Cup opener last Monday, where he played until the 86th minute in a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Reports indicate that he left a training session early due to breathing difficulties leading up to the first match.
“He seemed fine and managed to play against Egypt,” Garcia remarked. “But there are ups and downs in life, and the medical staff decided it was best to be cautious and assist his recovery.”
Doku has made headlines recently after expressing that he might leave the team to be present for the birth of his first child during the World Cup, with his wife due in early July, coinciding with the knockout stages.
Garcia did not disclose who would take Doku’s place in the starting lineup but hinted that Romelu Lukaku is likely to remain on the bench again. The 33-year-old striker has had limited playing time due to a recurring hamstring injury that sidelined him for most of last season at Napoli.
Lukaku, Belgium’s all-time leading goal scorer, came on as a substitute in the match against Egypt and quickly facilitated the equalizing goal. Garcia acknowledged that Lukaku is not yet ready for full match play.
“We need to exercise caution because there’s a temptation to over-utilize him,” Garcia noted. “The aim is to have him available throughout the tournament. We cannot exhaust him prematurely. Moreover, as long as others are fit, he can effectively contribute as a super sub. That’s where he excels.”
“We could start him, but I doubt he could play more than 60 minutes. He’s not just a key striker for Belgium; he’s among the best in football, and it’s beneficial to have him with us. Although he missed many training sessions, we’re glad to have him against all odds.”
Belgium is currently ranked 10th in FIFA’s world rankings and needs a strong performance against Iran to maintain their chances of winning the group after the surprising draw with Egypt. The Red Devils will conclude group-stage play against New Zealand on Friday.
If Belgium tops their group and prevails in their first knockout-round match, they could face the co-host U.S. on July 6 in the round of 16, assuming the Americans also win their first knockout match against a third-place team.
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