SEATTLE (AP) 鈥� Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku鈥檚 fitness remains a concern as the team prepares to take on Senegal in the round of 32 at the on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Lukaku, who leads his nation in goals scored, . He missed the majority of the club season because of a . Lukaku appeared only seven times across all competitions for Italian club Napoli last season.
鈥淚鈥檓 going with the flow. I train hard, and in the end, I鈥檓 happy to be here,鈥� Lukaku said Monday in French. 鈥淓specially when you see where I come from. I try to have my impact when I need to.鈥�
Lukaku started Belgium鈥檚 second group match against Iran and struggled to keep up with the tempo of the match. He did not register a shot, picked up a yellow card and was replaced after 73 minutes.
However, in his two substitute appearances against Egypt and New Zealand, Lukaku fared much better. The striker and added a goal and an assist in a cameo against New Zealand.
鈥淲hen I鈥檓 on the bench, I have a lot of time to analyze everything that鈥檚 happening on the field,鈥� Lukaku said. 鈥淗elping the team is the most important thing for me.鈥�
Lukaku鈥檚 contract with Napoli expires in June 2027. The striker has had a strained relationship with the club, including a March training absence that .
The two sides held constructive talks a few weeks later, and Lukaku reaffirmed his desire to stay with Napoli through next season.
Senegal, Belgium鈥檚 looming opponent, finished third in Group I with three points and a plus-2 goal differential. The African team navigated one of the toughest groups in the tournament, one that featured favorite France and the Erling Haaland-led Norway.
Senegal finished as the eighth-best third-place team 鈥� the last of the third-place finishers to reach the round of 32.
鈥淲e know it will be a tough match. Senegal has a lot of top-level players, and the coach (Pape Thiaw) is, too,鈥� Lukaku said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 50-50. We really shouldn鈥檛 underestimate them.鈥�
At 33, Lukaku could be playing in his final World Cup. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (35) and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (34) each could sit out the 2030 World Cup as well 鈥� a possible end to the team’s 鈥淕olden Generation.鈥�
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Owen Cameros is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
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