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Romelu Lukaku made an incredible impression after missing several opportunities in Belgium’s 0-0 draw with Croatia, which resulted in an early departure from the 2022 World Cup.
However, he hopes to put those memories behind him when he plays in the European Championship.
An incomplete fit Although Lukaku played just 53 minutes in Belgium’s three group stage matches in Qatar and was not to blame for their dismal performance, it was a low point for the 31-year-old, who has since spectacularly returned to form in the national team uniform.
After 11 games for the national team since the World Cup, he has scored 17 goals, and on Monday in Belgium’s Group E opener in Frankfurt, he will captain the line against Slovakia.
In their last qualifying match, they faced Azerbaijan and scored four goals in an only 27 minutes. With 14 goals, he was the top scorer in the preliminary round of the Euro 2024 competition.
Even though Lukaku hasn’t always been able to play at his best for his club in recent seasons, he can be unstoppable when he dons the Belgian red.
With 85 goals in 115 appearances since 2010, he is their all-time top scorer. Eden Hazard is second on the list with 33 goals.
Lukaku scored 11 goals in 42 appearances during his unspectacular first six years of international play.
However, since 2016, he has scored 74 goals in 73 outings. Although his objectives are self-explanatory, he is more complex than that.
Coach Domenico Tedesco of Belgium told Uefa.com, “He knows exactly when he should pass if he has his back to goal or if he can turn around and shoot at goal himself.”
Not only in set pieces and crosses, but in many other scenarios as well, he is deadly.
He is erratic and challenging to stop in the latter part of the pitch. Few defenders, in my opinion, would decide to oppose him.
After the World Cup collapse, Tedesco succeeded Roberto Martinez in February 2023.
In his 15 games as manager, Tedesco is unbeaten, and he believes Lukaku has a beneficial impact off the field as well.
There is no denying his significance off the field because he has a large network of players, especially younger ones, whom he can guide and mentor.
“He is very important because he looks after a lot of things in the dressing room and worries about a lot of things.”