Will Lukaku play the World Cup?
But the striker is being treated and has ten days (until the eve of the first match, on November 23), to be “fully recovered”, added the Red Devils coach, in Tubize, south of Brussels.
“He receives treatment and enters that period, until November 22, where he has the opportunity to fully recover,” the Spaniard said.
Lukaku, 29, is the top scorer in the history of the Belgian team (65 goals), which finished third in the 2018 World Cup.
But the Inter striker has had a hamstring injury in his left leg since the end of August, and a relapse in early November raised doubts about his ability to play in the World Cup.
Martínez said this Thursday that he hopes that he will be at least recovered for the second phase of the competition, after the first three games of the first round.
The list of those selected has no surprises.
Despite his short playing time at Real Madrid, national team captain Eden Hazard has been called up, although his role remains to be determined.
The team’s other stars (Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne) are also on the list, while Martinez maintains his confidence in defensive veterans like Jan Vertonghen (35) and Toby Alderweireld (33).
In the first round, Belgium will face Canada (November 23), Morocco (November 27) and Croatia (December 1).
This is the list of the 26 Belgian footballers
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/ESP), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge/BEL), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg/GER).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Antwerp/BEL), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht/BEL), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht/BEL), Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa/ENG), Wout Faes (Leicester/ENG), Arthur Theate (Stade Rennais/FRA ).
Midfielders: Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Timothy Castagne (Leicester, ENG), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/ENG), Axel Witsel (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Youri Tielemans ( Leicester/ENG), Amadou Onana (Everton/ENG), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Yannick Carrasco (Atlético Madrid/ESP).
Forwards: Eden Hazard (Real Madrid/ESP), Leandro Trossard (Brighton/ENG), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/ITA), Michy Batshuayi (Fenerbahce/TUR), Charles De Ketelaere (Milan AC/ITA), Lois Openda ( RC Lens/FRA), Jeremy Doku (Stade Rennais/FRA), Dries Mertens (Galatasaray/TUR).
Source: Ambito
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