Romelu Lukaku has been reinstated to Belgium's 23-man squad for their crucial Nations League fixtures against Italy and Israel, following his omission from the initial four games of the competition. The 30-year-old striker, who holds the record as Belgium's all-time top scorer with 85 goals in 119 appearances, is seen as pivotal to his national team's aspirations of advancing to the quarter-finals. Belgium has struggled in recent matches, having failed to win any of their last three encounters after starting the competition with a 3-1 victory over Israel in Group A2. Currently sitting third in the standings, Belgium now requires two victories to progress.
Coach Domenico Tedesco has stressed the importance of Lukaku's presence in the squad. He referred to Lukaku as one of the "best strikers in world football" and emphasized that the player no longer needs to prove anything. Tedesco also highlighted Lukaku's leadership qualities, noting how his experience could provide valuable mentorship to the younger players in the squad. Lukaku has been in excellent form for Serie A leaders Napoli, contributing eight goal involvements (four goals and four assists) in just nine league appearances this season. His return to Belgium's squad is expected to provide a significant boost to the team as they look to secure the vital points needed to reach the next stage of the competition.
Belgium's squad for the upcoming fixtures has been affected by a series of injuries, with key players like Youri Tielemans, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and Koni De Winter all ruled out. Additionally, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne will not be participating after requesting not to be included in the squad. However, there are some positive additions, including the return of Ameen Al-Dakhil from VfB Stuttgart and Chelsea's Romeo Lavia, who will strengthen the midfield. Club Brugge's young left-back Joaquin Seys has also earned his first senior call-up, adding further depth to the squad.
The full squad includes a mix of experience and youth, with goalkeeper Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah) and defenders like Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Lisbon), and Wout Faes (Leicester City). Midfielders such as Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Arne Engels (Celtic), and Amadou Onana (Aston Villa) will be crucial in the middle of the park, while exciting attacking options like Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), and Lois Openda (RB Leipzig) are expected to support Lukaku in the final third.
As the Nations League reaches its critical stages, Lukaku's return is seen as a key factor in Belgium's hopes of reclaiming their former glory on the international stage. The upcoming matches against Italy and Israel will be vital as Belgium looks to regain momentum and move towards qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals.
