Vinay Kumar
Serious question marks remain over the fitness of star striker Romelu Lukaku as Belgium gear up for their high-stakes World Cup Round of 32 encounter against Senegal on Wednesday.The 33-year-old forward, who stands as his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, has endured a nightmare season plagued by a persistent hamstring injury. Lukaku managed a meager seven appearances for Italian club Napoli last season and even skipped Belgium’s spring friendlies in the United States to focus on rehabilitation. Despite his physical struggles, the veteran remains determined to leave an imprint on the global showpiece.“I am just going with the flow. I train hard, and in the end, I am happy to be here,” Lukaku said on Monday. “Especially when you see where I come from. I try to have my impact when I need to. When I am on the bench, I have a lot of time to analyze everything happening on the field. Helping the team is the most important thing.”Lukaku’s tournament so far has been a mixed bag. Handed a start against Iran in the group stage, he visibly struggled with the high tempo of the match, picking up a yellow card and fading out completely before being substituted in the 73rd minute.However, he has looked remarkably sharp as an impact substitute. He forced a dramatic own-goal just 23 seconds after coming on in a 1-1 draw against Egypt, and followed it up with a clinical goal and an assist during a brief cameo against New Zealand.Away from the international setup, Lukaku’s future at Napoli remains under scrutiny. Following a strained relationship that included a disciplinary standoff after a missed training session in March, recent constructive talks have seen the striker commit to staying in Naples until his contract expires in 2027.Belgium’s immediate hurdle, Senegal, sneaked into the knockouts as the eighth-best third-place finisher. However, Pape Thiaw’s men are battle-hardened, having survived a brutal Group I that featured tournament favorites France and Erling Haaland’s Norway.“We know it will be a tough match. Senegal has a lot of top-level players,” Lukaku warned. “I think it is a 50-50 game. We really should not underestimate them.”With midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne now 35 and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois at 34, this tournament represents the absolute last stand for Belgium’s fabled “Golden Generation.” Whether a semi-fit Lukaku can power them deep into the knockouts remains to be seen.
