BRUSSELS (AP) – Romelu Lukaku’s efforts to recover from injury appear to be paying off as the Napoli striker has joined the Belgium squad. world cup friday team.
Lukaku, midfield great Kevin De Bruyne and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be playing in their fourth World Cup.
Lukaku has played 124 games for Belgium, De Bruyne 117 and Courtois 107, making them one of the most experienced players in the World Cup squad. They are both behind 37-year-old defensive midfielder Axel Witsel, who is also playing his fourth tournament. He played 136 games for the Belgium national team.
Lukaku has not played for Belgium in about a year, since scoring in June’s World Cup qualifier against Wales. Injury has limited the 33-year-old striker to just five appearances in Serie A for Napoli this season.
He was selected for Belgium’s most recent friendlies in March and April, but withdrew from the squad due to further fitness concerns.
Courtois last played for the national team in October, and although injury problems kept him out of Belgium’s most recent squad, he has been a key player for Real Madrid this season. Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku will bring their Premier League experience to the fore.
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 Belgian debut. Defeat USA 5-2 In March. Forward Reus Openda will also be absent, having spent most of the last few months on the Juventus bench.
Belgium will start their World Cup Group G match against Egypt on June 15th, followed by Iran six days later and New Zealand on June 27th. Belgium finished third at the 2018 World Cup but will be aiming to improve in preparation for elimination in the group stage in 2022.
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Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lamence, Mike Penders.
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debasto, Maxime de Cupier, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechel, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Goy, Joaquín Seis, Arthur Teate.
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel.
Forwards: Charles de Quetelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernández-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukabakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saeremachers, Leandro Trossard.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
