Jérémy Doku’s World Cup is still close enough to provoke a public assessment. Belgium reached the quarter-finals, but the winger believes injuries, illness, family travel and Rudi Garcia’s tactical choices prevented him from showing his best level during the tournament.
SEO Title: Jérémy Doku reflects on Belgium’s World Cup campaign
SEO Description: Jérémy Doku explains why Belgium’s quarter-final World Cup run was difficult personally, citing positional decisions, illness and family circumstances.
The window
While many players have returned to club routines after the World Cup, Doku has revisited Belgium’s campaign with clear frustration over how he was used. The Manchester City winger criticised Garcia’s management and said he should not have been moved into unfamiliar roles.
His main example was Belgium’s opening 1-1 draw with Egypt. Doku said he was deployed on the right flank at times and was also used as a centre-forward against Egypt, despite widespread recognition that his strongest position is on the left.
“Looking back at that match, I was not always put in the right circumstances,” Doku said. “I played on the right on occasions and even as a striker against Egypt. Those were not the right calls. Everyone knows I am at my best from the left, so there was no need to suddenly experiment. It bothered me and did not help me.”
Even so, he judged Belgium’s overall result positively. “We made the quarter-finals, so the World Cup was a success for the team,” he said.
Doku’s tournament was also disrupted away from the tactical board. A serious respiratory infection required an emergency overnight stay in a Seattle hospital. He also travelled to London several times around the birth of his son, Praise.
Who is in the picture
- Jérémy Doku — Belgium winger, who says left wing is his most effective role.
- Rudi Garcia — Belgium coach whose World Cup methods and positional decisions were questioned by Doku.
- Praise Doku — the player’s newborn son, whose arrival led to several trips to London.
Doku has since rejoined Manchester City, aiming to put the World Cup disappointment behind him. His return to action has been delayed, however, by a calf injury suffered in City’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
