\n
SEATTLE (AP) \u2014 Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku’s fitness remains a concern as his team prepares to face Senegal in the Round of 32. world cup<\/span> on wednesday.<\/p>\nLukaku, 33, leads the country in goals scored. In the spring, he missed a friendly match against Belgium in the United States to improve his health.<\/span>. He missed the majority of the club season due to hamstring injury<\/span>. Lukaku made just seven appearances in all competitions for Italian club Napoli last season.<\/p>\n“I’m going with the flow, I trained hard and in the end I’m happy to be here,” Lukaku said in French on Monday. “Especially when you look at where I come from. I try to make an impact when it’s needed.”<\/p>\n
Lukaku started Belgium’s second group game against Iran but struggled to keep up with the tempo of the game. He failed to make a shot and received a yellow card, and was substituted in the 73rd minute.<\/p>\n
However, in his two substitute appearances against Egypt and New Zealand, Lukaku performed much better. striker In a 1-1 draw against Egypt, they were forced into an own goal just 23 seconds into the match.<\/span> He added a goal and an assist in a cameo appearance against New Zealand.<\/p>\n“When you’re on the bench, you have a lot of time to analyze everything that’s happening on the field,” Lukaku said. \u201cHelping the team is the most important thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lukaku’s contract with Napoli expires in June 2027. The striker has had a tense relationship with the club, including missing training in March. Napoli urged to consider sanctioning the player.<\/span>.<\/p>\nA few weeks later, the two sides held constructive negotiations and Lukaku reaffirmed his desire to remain at Napoli until next season.<\/p>\n
Belgium’s looming opponents, Senegal, sit third in Group I with three points and a goal difference of plus two. The African team made it through one of the toughest groups in the tournament, a group that included favorites France and Erling Haaland’s Norway.<\/p>\n
Senegal was the third-place team in the best eight and the last third-place team to advance to the Round of 32.<\/p>\n
“We know it’s going to be a tough game. Senegal have a lot of top-level players and so does the coach (Pape Thiau),” Lukaku said. “I think it’s 50-50. We shouldn’t underestimate them.”<\/p>\n
Lukaku, 33, could play in his final World Cup. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 35, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 34, could each miss the 2030 World Cup, potentially ending the team’s “golden generation”.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Owen Cameros is a student at Penn State University’s John Curley Center for Sports Journalism.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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