From Nick Side

Seattle, June 15 (Reuters Sports Service) - Romelu Lukaku had barely been on the pitch for 20 seconds when his power and tenacity forced Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany to inadvertently deflect the ball into his own net, underscoring the striker's importance to the Belgian national team at the World Cup.

Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt in Group G on Monday after Emam Ashour gave the North African side the lead in the first half.

Belgium were struggling to score an equalizer until the powerful Lukaku entered the field and made an immediate impact, attracting the attention of two defenders while Hany accidentally turned the ball into his own net.

The striker spent a large part of last year away from the team, having played only 69 minutes for Italian side Napoli last season.

But since returning to play for Belgium in two friendly matches in June, Lukaku has proven his worth.

He scored his 90th international goal in the 2-0 win over Croatia, and also provided an assist after coming on as a substitute in the 5-0 rout of Tunisia.

The goal scored against Egypt may not be recorded in his name in the records, but he had the greatest influence on it.

Effective alternative

Lukaku is still not physically ready to start matches after a long absence from the pitch, but Belgium hopes he will soon transition from an influential substitute to a starter.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said, "We have to take it one step at a time. We want to go as far as possible in this tournament with Lukaku."

"That's our primary objective, and if he can play the role of an influential substitute, coming onto the field and scoring every time, that would be fantastic."

He added, "I'm happy for him. When you're a competitor and you see Lukaku enter the field, you're likely to feel scared and your anxiety will increase."

Lukaku no longer possesses the speed or agility he once had, but rather strength and intelligence in dealing with defenders.

Charles De Cutler, who started against Egypt, doesn't possess the same qualities, while Dodi Lukebakio lacks sufficient international experience. The other striker on the roster, Matías Fernández-Pardo, could be a player with potential for the future.

If Belgium can give Lukaku more minutes, their chances of winning their first World Cup title will increase significantly.

Belgium will play their next match against Iran on Sunday before their final group stage game against New Zealand on June 26. Both teams will be focused on finding ways to stop Lukaku's threat.