Belgium held the first public training session in Qatar this Sunday without top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who will miss the first two games of the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, so at best only fit for the game against Croatia , of the last trip, scheduled for 1 December.
The Inter Milan striker (aged 29) has already traveled to Qatar injured and Belgium coach, Spaniard Roberto Martínez, admitted when announcing the squad that Lukaku was not clinically fit.
The holder of the Red Devils, Lukaku, will therefore miss Wednesday’s games against Canada and next Sunday against Morocco, a source close to the Belgian national team confirmed to AFP.
Lukaku’s absence should be compensated by the usual substitute, Michy Batshuayi, who plays for Jorge Jesus’ Fenerbahce, although the Belgian coach may also opt to coach young Loïs Openda (Lens), goalscorer in the defeat to Egypt. by Rui Vitória, in what was the last preparatory match, held on Friday.
The Belgian national team arrived in Qatar early on Saturday and hours later did a recovery session at their training center in Salwa Beach, the furthest from Doha, 100 kilometers southeast of the capital.
Source: DN
