Belgium and its 'Golden Generation' veterans get off to unimpressive start

Despite seeking to avoid a repeat of its early World Cup exit in 2022, Belgium got off to an unimpressive start.

Romelu Lukaku entered in the 66th minute against Egypt on Monday, and the veteran striker immediately created a scoring chance that led to an equalizing own goal, but that was all Belgium could muster in a limp 1-1 draw.

"No game's an easy game in the World Cup," coach Rudi Garcia said afterward.

Perhaps not, but Belgium was expected to handle an Egypt squad that has never won a World Cup game. Instead, the Red Devils were outmaneuvered in the first half, with the speed of Egypt's younger players making the Pharaohs the aggressors.

"We know that we had a bad start in the match," captain Youri Tielemans admitted.

Now, the question becomes whether or not Belgium can make one last World Cup run with the remaining veterans from its "Golden Generation", which includes the 33-year-old Lukaku and two 34-year-olds, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Belgium held the top spot in the FIFA rankings for several years and had its best World Cup performance when it finished third in Russia in 2018.

But the team fizzled out four years later in Qatar, entering with title-winning ambition, but failing to advance to the knockout round.

Since the FIFA rankings were introduced in 1992, Belgium and the Netherlands are the only teams without a World Cup title to hold the top spot.

The Red Devils entered this year's World Cup ranked 10th, by far the best in Group G, which also includes Iran (25th), Egypt (29th) and New Zealand (79th).

Lukaku, Belgium's leading goalscorer, is recovering from a hamstring injury. Belgium tied the game less than a minute after he entered as a substitute.

"He's a target man," Tielemans said."He needs to build up his fitness, which is understandable after being out for the season, but he helps us in this way."

De Bruyne was replaced by Hans Vanaken in the 85th minute.

With 32 teams making the knockout round in this expanded World Cup, it's easier than ever to advance, but Belgium has less room for error as it prepares to face Iran on Sunday in Inglewood, California.

"We have to win against Iran, there's no two ways around it," Garcia said.

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