On Thursday, the Belgian side will face France in the semi-finals of the Nations League at 20.45. Without the injured Thomas Meunier, but with a title-hungry record scorer.
Belgian national coach Roberto Martinez had already nominated his squad for the Nations League Final Four on Friday. Actually, the Dortmund players Thomas Meunier and Thorgan Hazard should also be part of the squad, as they have been able to recommend themselves for the national team through their recent good performances in the Borussia jersey. However, both the 30-year-old right-back and the younger brother of Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard are out. Meunier was already ruled out by the Belgian medical department on Monday. Now Hazard has also departed, once again suffering from ankle problems.
Lukaku wants the title
Fit and in top form, on the other hand, is Belgium’s record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku. The man who returned to Chelsea FC this summer credits his historic goal-scoring prowess in particular to his looseness after initial teething troubles told uefa.com: “I didn’t score so many goals for the national team from the start, it took a little while. At some point I stopped counting and just played. “
However, for him, the team’s success comes before his own achievements: “I hate losing, and it’s just as terrible to lose when you’ve scored.” Accordingly, he is naturally delighted about the many victories he has already scored with the national team in his 100 international matches. It’s a mark that means a lot to the tall striker, who says that as a young player, you do everything you can to achieve it. Ultimately, however, it’s about more than that: “Every time I play for the national team, I want to win. And I want to win a tournament,” said the player of the past Serie A season, clearly formulating his wishes.
In the end, you just want to win a title. That’s my motivation.
ROMELU LUKAKU
The Antwerp-born player could be helped by the world stars around Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard as well as a number of Bundesliga players. Among them is Dodi Lukebakio from VfL Wolfsburg, who, thanks to the strong start to the season of the “Wolves”, could play himself back into the focus of the national team for the first time since October 2020. He will be accompanied by his team-mate Koen Casteels, who will probably sit on the bench behind Thibault Courtois. Also nominated again is young Charles de Ketelaere of FC Brugge, who made his debut only a few weeks ago against Switzerland.
It remains to be seen whether this time it will be enough for a title of the much-cited “Golden Generation” of the Belgians. The “Équipe Tricolore” from France will be a strong opponent in the semi-final in Turin, before Spain would follow in a possible final. Lukaku, for sure, will give everything to win the cup. After all, it is this desire that drives him.