The Belgian media have reached a completely unanimous verdict on Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin ahead of Belgium’s massive 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 showdown against the USA on Monday.
Raskin has been the talk of the town in his homeland following a series of dynamic, game-changing displays off the bench under national coach Rudi Garcia.
With a monumental clash looming in Seattle against one of the tournament’s host nations, the country’s biggest media outlets have collectively called for the Ibrox star to be unleashed from the opening whistle.
Virtually every major publication in Belgium is demanding that the 25-year-old be restored to the starting XI to provide the defensive grit needed to shut down the Americans.
Nico Raskin is making a name for himself on the international stage! 😍
If he is to leave Rangers, how much should he be sold for?
Nicolas Raskin touted to start in Belgium v USMNT
From Brussels to Antwerp, the consensus is absolute: Raskin must play.
French-language broadcasters RTL led the charge, tracking the fallout from Belgium’s chaotic round of 32 victory over Senegal.
They noted that Hans Vanaken is expected to be the “big loser” of the midfield reshuffle, with Raskin firmly projected to start alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans.
Nieuwsblad echoed those tactical sentiments, stating that Garcia will inevitably fall back on a dedicated anchoring midfielder to solidify the spine, identifying Raskin as “the favourite” over Aston Villa’s Amadou Onana.
Meanwhile, Voetbal Krant kept their tactical assessment brutally blunt:
“Something does need to change to improve defensive midfield. Hans Vanaken would be the victim of this, in favour of Nicolas Raskin, if it were up to us.”
Rangers star receives Axel Witsel endorsement
Perhaps the most telling insight came via RTBF, who revealed that Raskin has the ultimate backing of a Belgian footballing icon.
Legendary midfielder Axel Witsel, who has long served as a personal mentor to the Rangers ace, has heavily endorsed him to reclaim the starting number six role under Garcia against the USMNT.
Nicolas Raskin has been linked with a Rangers exit…
RTBF highlighted that while Raskin was surprisingly named as a substitute in the previous outing against Senegal, his impact off the bench was undeniable.
They wrote: “He came on as a substitute and, once again, made an impact. His runs, his tenacity, his healthy aggression – he’s the number one candidate to start against one of the tournament’s host nations. He has a slight edge over Amadou Onana.”
With Serie A giants Atalanta and La Liga outfit Real Betis already tracking his standout tournament performances, a starting role on Monday night will only see Raskin’s stock shoot further into the stratosphere.
Rangers fans will be watching closely as their midfield engine stands on the verge of a defining international career milestone.
