On June 3 (Beijing time), Belgium beat Croatia 2-0 in a friendly in Rijeka. Head coach Rudi Garcia started Onana, who usually plays as a holding midfielder, at center-back alongside Ate and Ngoi—his first full run-through of that setup with the squad. After the match, players and coaches alike felt the experiment was heading in the right direction.
Belgium lined up in a 3-4-2-1, unlike their usual 4-3-3. Garcia had planned before kickoff to use the Croatia game to test whether the system could work as a starting shape or an in-game switch before the North American World Cup. Onana said afterward that his partnership with Ate and Ngoi flowed smoothly and that the three roles were clear; though he is more at home in midfield and has only occasionally filled in at center-back, he is willing to drop into the back line when the team needs it and can even accept a stint up front. He admitted midfield feels most comfortable and that the World Cup remains his top priority right now—if defensive duty is required, he will not complain.
Garcia said Onana’s natural midfield lean actually makes the lineup more flexible, allowing him to be shifted up or down during a match; against Croatia he showed he has the qualities required at center-back. Belgium therefore has another tactical card to open with or to deploy after the break, and one that can deliver results. He also acknowledged the details still need polishing, but at least confirmed the system is viable in a real match.
Site data showed Belgium had eight shots, four on target, 43% possession, 417 passes at 83% completion, and four corners; Croatia had five shots with only one on target, 57% possession, 536 passes at 87% completion. Despite losing the possession battle, Belgium still won 2-0, lifting morale. The sides are ranked ninth and 11th in the FIFA table with similar points, so the win still offers useful reference for fine-tuning rhythm before the World Cup.
Tactically, placing Onana, who is stronger in build-up and progression, at center-back adds a wrinkle to the 3-4-2-1 without sacrificing ball-playing from the back; if opponents press high, he can also drop deeper to help organize. The risk is that his duels and set-piece defending still need testing at the highest level, and Garcia left room for improvement. Belgium and Croatia will both move into World Cup preparation next, with squad flexibility and the center-back options remaining key things to watch.
