Charles De Ketelaere

Analysis: De Ketelaere endured a difficult evening as Belgium's central striker in Monday's 1-1 draw with Egypt, registering two tackles (one won), three clearances and three interceptions in a match where he was largely isolated from meaningful service and unable to impose himself on an Egyptian centre-back pairing that was physically dominant throughout the first half. The Atalanta forward was replaced by Romelu Lukaku in the second half, with the substitute's immediate impact, forcing Mohamed Hany's own goal within 23 seconds of his introduction, highlighting the difference in physicality and penalty-box presence between the two strikers. De Ketelaere's technical quality and pressing intensity give Belgium a different attacking profile from Lukaku, but Monday's performance will intensify the debate around the starting striker role ahead of the Iran fixture.

May 27, 2026

Likely starter up front for Belgium

De Ketelaere shapes up as one of the most exciting attacking options in Belgium's World Cup squad, having been named by coach Rudi Garcia as an expected starter at the tip of the attack heading into the summer tournament.

Analysis: De Ketelaere delivered one of his finest seasons to date with Atalanta, contributing five goals and seven assists alongside 85 key passes and 61 crosses across 39 appearances including 33 starts, cementing his status as one of the more complete attacking midfielders in Serie A. His elegance on the ball, intelligent movement and rare versatility make him a nightmare to pin down defensively, with the ability to operate as a false nine, in behind the striker or from wide positions depending on the tactical demands of any given match. At international level, De Ketelaere has progressively established himself as one of the most reliable creative outlets in the Belgian attack, combining seamlessly with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku to form one of the more dynamic and technically gifted attacking units at the entire tournament. His capacity to combine with teammates in tight spaces, arrive late into the box and produce moments of individual quality in crucial moments gives Belgium a genuinely unpredictable edge going forward. With Romelu Lukaku likely to begin the tournament from the bench, De Ketelaere's ability to lead the line intelligently and bring others into play will be one of the defining factors in how far the Red Devils can go this summer.