For Belgium, the De Bruyne-Lukaku connection has been forged over years rather than weeks.
That matters. Belgium are not asking two strangers to improvise. They are leaning on an established pattern: De Bruyne finding angles early, Lukaku attacking space and finishing moves. Reports suggest they have combined directly for 18 goals, with De Bruyne supplying the larger share of assists. Even with reduced club rhythm, that level of familiarity can shorten the adaptation time in tournament football.
The striking contrast is at Napoli, where the long-awaited club reunion has barely started. One report says De Bruyne and Lukaku have shared only six minutes on the pitch together since De Bruyne’s arrival, their only joint appearance coming in a brief cameo against Torino.
That lack of time is reportedly tied to separate injury setbacks. It means Belgium will be drawing on old chemistry rather than recent club evidence. For any coach, that is a risk. Tournament football, however, often rewards trusted relationships over perfect fitness curves.
Belgium’s call appears to be a calculated one. De Bruyne and Lukaku may not arrive with ideal momentum, but they do bring something harder to manufacture in a short camp: timing, trust and a long history of producing in major moments.
The next question is simple. Can that old connection click quickly enough on the biggest stage? Belgium’s opening games should offer the first answer - and perhaps the clearest sign yet of whether this proven duo still has one more tournament run in it.