FINAL SHOT FOR THE RED DEVILS
Belgium’s aging “Golden Generation” will begin their final shot at World Cup glory against Canada on Wednesday, but do so without talismanic forward Romelu Lukaku, who has been central to their success in recent years. The Group F game at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan is a tricky opener for Roberto Martinez’s side against opponents appearing at a first global finals for 36 years who will be fired up to spring a surprise.
Lukaku, who is set to miss his side’s first two games at least, is not the only player potentially out. Right back Thomas Meunier trained on his own on Sunday having seemingly recovered from a broken cheekbone last week, but the powerful striker will be the biggest loss. Martinez has admitted that without Lukaku his team, ranked second in the world, have to alter their style and personnel and the latter’s replacement Michy Batshuayi failed to impress in a 2-1 friendly defeat by Egypt on Friday.
Not that the coach is hitting the panic button.
“This group has been together for six years, it is not that there is suddenly nothing left,” Martinez told reporters. “That is why we should see this match (against Egypt) mainly as a wake-up call. It was also useful in giving some players much-needed minutes.
“Now it’s just a matter of getting everyone ready. We can’t expect to win at the World Cup if we aren’t at our best.”
Captain Eden Hazard has barely played at Real Madrid this season but is likely to be the main creative force along with the mercurial Kevin De Bruyne, who can unlock even the stingiest defence. Defender Jan Vertonghen appears to have overcome injury and got 20 minutes against Egypt. —