Romelu Lukaku STOPS the dugout and storms down the tunnel in tears after missing three sitters as Belgium crashed at the World Cup… with Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer sympathizing with striker who was ‘far from done’ after injury
An emotional one Romelu Lukaku took out his frustration by batting the dugout after missing three sitters as Belgium crashed out of the World Cup.
Belgium needed to beat Croatia to reach the last 16 at the World Cup, but they were held to a goalless draw – although Lukaku had some golden chances to send Roberto Martinez’s side through to the knockout stages.
After the final whistle, Lukaku hit the dugout and had to be comforted by Belgium’s coaching staff, including Thierry Henry.
Romelu Lukaku missed three sitters as Belgium crashed out of the World Cup with a draw
After the game, he expressed his frustration by hitting the plexiglass on the Belgian dugout
The Inter Milan striker, on loan from Chelsea, was then in tears as he went through the tunnel.
Lukaku entered the fray at half-time as Belgium teetered on the brink of group stage elimination and within minutes had two excellent chances to break the deadlock, but turned both down.
In the 59th minute, Roberto Martinez’s side broke into the Croatia penalty area looking for an opener. The ball fell to Lukaku – just yards from goal – but the 29-year-old was only able to find the post with his right-footed effort.
Two minutes later, Kevin De Bruyne’s cross hovered over the Inter striker’s head, but he failed to hit the target and saw his effort float over the crossbar.
Lukaku hit the post and had two more sitters all from close range against Croatia
Lukaku was in tears and had to be comforted by the coaching staff, including Thierry Henry
In the final moments of the game, Lukaku had a chance to make up for his mistakes as the ball fell to him in the box, but again he failed to convert.
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba said of Lukaku hitting the dugout: “He’s frustrated not only because he missed the target, but also because of the spirit of the team during this tournament. All the talk about battles between players. This is what will frustrate him more than the missed opportunities’
He added: “We can’t put the blame on someone who has been injured for two months. As a striker he should have been sharper, but you can’t blame him.’
His fellow BBC pundit Alan Shearer added: ‘It will hurt him. It was far from finished or they would have started it. He gave them a focal point. His lack of playing time has hurt them.’
Drogba added, “You need more games to find the rhythm. If it had been a positive team, with a positive energy, I wonder if any of these opportunities would have landed.’
More to follow…