Romelu Lukaku's nightmare game against Croatia sent Belgium out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
That will haunt him for a long time.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup just had its first shocking exit in the group stage, and it came down to a match that will haunt Romelu Lukaku for a long time.
Belgium — needing a win against Croatia to move on to the knockout round — saw its World Cup end on Thursday in a scoreless draw. But really, it should have been a match that Belgium won with no issue.
Lukaku, who has had a tumultuous couple years with Chelsea and now Inter Milan, was brought on in the second half to do what he’s done best for Belgium his entire international career: score goals. And to Lukaku’s credit, he got himself in excellent positions to do just that.
Just for whatever reason, he simply could not get the ball in the net. His first golden opportunity came 15 minutes into the second half where his open look at goal hit off the post.
What a chance for Lukaku
pic.twitter.com/uxD6XogOvF
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
Lukaku would miss an open header that wouldn’t have counted anyway, but he’d have two more opportunities that he couldn’t convert.
Another chance for Belgium!
Will they find the back of the net before the final whistle? pic.twitter.com/tP85kcoBrq
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
No chance was easier than this 90th-minute sitter right in front of goal.
HOW WAS THIS NOT A GOAL FOR BELGIUM?!
Lukaku with another massive miss pic.twitter.com/t07SuTTqTz
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
Another look at this late chance by Lukaku and Belgium
pic.twitter.com/1zBMOxwdYD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
You really have to feel for Lukaku who was understandably devastated after the match and was consoled by Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry comforts an emotional Lukaku pic.twitter.com/7dmZVRwMf3
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
For the past eight years, Belgium had enjoyed an unprecedented golden generation of talent, and Lukaku was a huge part of that group. But Thursday’s match — in what could be Lukaku’s final World Cup appearance — will be impossible to get over for the Belgian striker.