Romelu Lukaku was named in Belgium’s World Cup squad Friday despite a string of fitness issues, the report says. The Napoli striker’s selection comes after efforts to recover from injuries limited his availability this season, yet he is included among a veteran group headed to the tournament.
The report says Lukaku, midfield great Kevin de Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are set to play their fourth World Cup campaigns. Lukaku has 124 caps for Belgium, de Bruyne 117 and Courtois 107, making them some of the most experienced players on any team at the World Cup, per the report. They all trail 37-year-old Axel Witsel, who has 136 caps and is also heading into a fourth tournament.
Lukaku has not played for Belgium in almost a year, the report says, his last appearance coming when he scored against Wales in World Cup qualifying in June. Injuries have limited the 33-year-old to just five Serie A games for Napoli this season. He was selected for Belgium’s friendlies in March and April but withdrew from the squads over further fitness concerns, according to the report.
The report says Courtois’ last game for the national team was in October and he was omitted from Belgium’s most recent squad due to injury issues, though he has been a key player for Real Madrid this season. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard and Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku bring Premier League experience to Belgium’s forward options, per the report. Forward Loïs Openda misses out after spending much of the last few months on the Juventus bench.
Coach Rudi Garcia did not select 17-year-old midfielder Nathan de Cat, who would have been one of the youngest players at the World Cup; de Cat made his Belgium debut in a 5-2 win over the United States in March, the report says. Belgium begin their tournament in Group G against Egypt on June 15, then face Iran six days later and New Zealand on June 27, seeking to improve on a group-stage exit in 2022 after finishing third in 2018.
