Roberto’s three spirit

ROBERTO MARTINEZ insists Belgium finishing third is far more important than Romelu Lukaku winning the Golden Boot.

And the Belgium boss says Lukaku (above), who is on four goals, two behind Harry Kane, shares his thinking.

Martinez plans to send out a near full-strength side, which is expected to include Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku.

“We don’t look at that individual reward,” said Martinez, who celebrated his 45th birthday yesterday. “Romelu has shown that with his play.

“We had a moment in the Japan game when he had the ball and some strikers would have shot but he had one of the best assists in the tournament to help the team.

“Other awards are more interesting. To finish third would be almost an achievement we would salute more than any reward.”

Although Kane has outscored his Premier League rival, Martinez would not swap Lukaku for anybody else at the tournament.

“I am biased,” Martinez added. “But I worked with him at 19 and have seen the incredible journey in his career.

“He can do anything. He has power and pace, is developing his hold-up play and is strong in the air but his biggest attribute is that he is a goalscorer, a finisher, whose numbers are difficult to match.” Midfielder Axel Witzel, who will win his 96th cap today, said Belgium had shrugged off the disappointment of losing to France on Tuesday and are fired up. “We have one objective and that is to finish in third place so we are taking this match very seriously,” the 29-year-old said.

“It is still a World Cup match and it is not every day you have the chance to play in a third place play-off game.”