Romelu Lukaku, the Belgium national team striker, confirmed that facing Senegal was one of his team’s most difficult matches in the 2026 World Cup, praising what the opponent presented despite the Red Devils’ qualification to the round of 16.
The Belgium team won the ticket to the next round after a dramatic remontada against Senegal, overturning a two-goal deficit to win 3-2, after equalizing in the last moments, before Youri Tielemans sealed the victory with a penalty kick during the second extra period.
Lukaku said, in statements to the official website of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), jokingly: “I am tired of these matches.”
He added: “We gave everything we had, and we did not give up despite being two goals behind. We showed strong character and fighting spirit, which made the difference in the end.”
Lukaku praised the Senegal national team, saying: “It is one of the best teams in the tournament, and the match was complex at all levels, whether technical, physical or tactical.
The Belgium striker pointed out that the difficult victories give the team a great boost, explaining: “Such matches bring the players closer together, and this is what we will need in the coming rounds.”
