Rangers star Nicolas Raskin was involved as Belgium orchestrated a truly insane, multi-goal comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 in Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup round of 32 encounter.
With Senegal comfortably cruising in the driving seat with a 2-0 cushion after 80 minutes, the Red Devils looked completely dead and buried.
Yet, a late flurry featuring quick-fire goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra-time, culminating in Tielemans converting a highly controversial 125th-minute penalty to snatch a sensational victory.
While the Aston Villa ace will grab the global headlines for his captain’s display, the entire match turned on its head due to an extraordinary, multi-layered performance from Rangers dynamo Raskin.
Eyebrows were universally raised across the footballing landscape when the 25-year-old was thrown into the fray to replace a literal footballing god, Kevin De Bruyne, in the 56th minute.
What followed was not just a tactical masterclass – it was a definitive show of elite locker-room authority that has left the Belgian media absolutely spellbound.
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The Gers have six players at the tournament.
When Nicolas Raskin defused an on-field fight between Belgium mates
While Raskin’s positional discipline was flawless, his absolute standout contribution to the victory was psychological.
With Belgium still trailing 2-0 in the second half, the immense pressure of a looming World Cup exit caused tensions to completely boil over.
Just before the hydration break, a heated, aggressive argument erupted between Tielemans and Leandro Trossard. Enraged by the execution of a misplaced pass, Trossard marched directly into the face of his skipper.
As the two Premier League stars stood square jaw to square jaw in a destructive on-field meltdown, it was the Rangers man who took control.
Showing maturity far beyond his years, Raskin marched into the epicentre of the flashpoint, physically separating his feuding teammates and demanding focus.
It was the exact wake-up call the squad required, as Trossard went on to assist Tielemans for his late equaliser.
By playing dressing-room diplomat on the pitch, Raskin unified the midfield, completely unlocking Tielemans to forget the dispute and go on to produce his heroic, match-winning brace.
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Tactically, Raskin’s introduction changed everything. By slotting directly into the deep-lying number six role, he brought immediate stability to a leaking defensive unit, neatly keeping the play ticking and giving his advanced teammates the freedom to attack.
Unsurprisingly, the Belgian press have reacted with collective awe to the Ibrox maestro’s transformative impact.
| Publication | Rating |
| DH Les Sports+ | 8/10 (joint-top) |
| Nieuwsblad | 7/10 |
| Le Soir | N/A |
DH Les Sports+ handed Raskin a glittering 8/10 match rating – the joint-highest on the pitch alongside Tielemans – waxing lyrical over his composure: “Very involved and proactive: he made an excellent impact after coming off the bench.”
Nieuwsblad were equally enamoured, awarding a 7/10 and noting that he has fundamentally disrupted the team’s hierarchy: “Provided calm and tenacity. Applied for a starting spot [against the USMNT in the last-16].”
Le Soir took the praise a step further, hinting that the Rangers man has played his way into the lineup for the remainder of the tournament: “Nicolas Raskin, who came on as a substitute, really impressed during his brief time on the pitch. He could well start against the United States alongside Tielemans and De Bruyne.”
For Gers fans watching from home, seeing their midfielder sub on for De Bruyne, police a brawl between Premier League stars, and orchestrate a World Cup miracle is a massive point of pride, and a sign that his market value is rapidly heading toward the stratosphere.
