What Belgium media said about Rangers ace Nicolas Raskin after Croatia clash

Nicolas Raskin was handed another opportunity to strengthen his World Cup credentials on Tuesday night after starting for Belgium in their friendly victory over Croatia, though the Rangers midfielder endured a mixed evening.

The 25-year-old, who has been included in Belgium’s squad for this summer’s World Cup in North America, featured from the outset as Rudi Garcia’s side secured a 2-0 win in Rijeka. It marked Raskin’s 12th senior appearance for his country, with the midfielder playing 79 minutes before being substituted.

While the Rangers star has consistently impressed at club level, his performance against Croatia was viewed as below his usual standards by sections of the Belgian media.

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia appeared keen to give Raskin a chance to cement a regular starting place ahead of the tournament, but reports suggest the midfielder struggled to fully impose himself on the game.

Belgian outlet DH Les Sports acknowledged Raskin’s usual defensive work rate but suggested he occasionally looked uncertain and wasteful in possession during the match. The publication rated his performance at 5.5 out of 10.

Elsewhere, Sports Dunia handed the midfielder a slightly more favourable score of 6.6, although the assessment still reflected a relatively underwhelming display. Belgian fan account Joueurs Belges also weighed in on social media, describing it as “not a top-level Raskin performance.”

The timing of the display may be frustrating for the midfielder, with the World Cup now just around the corner. However, Belgium still have another friendly against Tunisia, offering Raskin a valuable opportunity to respond and strengthen his case for a prominent role at the tournament.

Back at Rangers, speculation over the midfielder’s future continues to build. Given his growing international profile and involvement at the World Cup, interest in the former Standard Liège player is expected to intensify.

Recent reports have suggested both Raskin and fellow midfielder Mohamed Diomande could be among the names departing Ibrox this summer. If exits materialise, Rangers boss Danny Röhl will likely hope deals are completed swiftly to allow enough time to identify and bring in replacements.

For now, though, Raskin’s focus is expected to remain firmly on international duty as Belgium look to mount a serious challenge on football’s biggest stage.