Romelu Lukaku has been missing from the Belgium national team since the round of 16 at the European Championships. According to him, the break is likely to last even longer.
Kevin De Bruyne was missing through injury, other former key players like Eden Hazard have been retired for quite some time, and Thibaut Courtois no longer guards the national team goal after an argument with Domenico Tedesco – in Belgium’s squad for the last international match, there was no member of the golden generation left. This was also due to Romelu Lukaku, who, after a good start in Naples (three goals in five league games), would certainly have been nominated if he had been available.
The reason for his absence was revealed by the 31-year-old in the podcast Friends of Sports: “It’s mainly mental, because the fire isn’t really burning at the moment. I’ve always played with fire in the national team. Always,” said the attacker. It is not the end of his international career, but he is currently lacking a goal with the Red Devils. ‘At your club, you quickly get a new chance, but the next goal with the Devils is only the World Cup in two years and that still seems so far away,’ explains Lukaku.
One trigger for his mental problems goes back about two years. In the last World Cup qualifier against Croatia, he made his comeback after the restart and was supposed to score the longed-for goal to advance. But despite numerous opportunities – including in the final minute, when he failed to put the ball in the goal from a few meters out using his chest – he did not become the celebrated hero, but the tragic one.
Belgium ultimately went out after a 0-0 draw with Croatia. “It was the first time in 29 years that football had affected me like that. It really got to me. I went on vacation and cried every day for a week,” the striker explains.
Henry was a great support
The former assistant coach Thierry Henry was a great help during this time. The Frenchman called Lukaku three times a day and asked about his state of mind. Just how close the two are became clear shortly after the final whistle of the game. Henry had consoled his crying protégé with a hug.
Lukaku originally wanted to end the national team chapter after the draw. However, a conversation with Tedesco changed his plans: “In my first conversation with Tedesco and Vercauteren, I wanted to say that I was leaving the national team. Just as I was about to say it, he said that he really needs me,” Lukaku reveals.
Lukaku is clear when looking at the current generation
However, Tedesco’s request only helped temporarily. The European Championship has now obviously been the last straw. With the last of the golden generation dropping out, the identity of the Red Devils of recent years is now also disappearing – at least from Lukaku’s point of view. “The players who are left now want to help the others find their own identity. But how is that supposed to happen?” asks the attacker.
He then elaborates: “If you don’t feel that pressure and aren’t the kind of player who puts pressure on themselves, then it’s very difficult. And I think that’s the problem we face.” For the Belgians, who are still ambitious, the current dreariness (only four wins in twelve games this calendar year) could well become a permanent condition.
