On the BBC, the centre forward’s club was in full circle the wagons mode.
Gary Lineker, Didier Drogba and Alan Shearer were analysing Romelu Lukaku’s pitiful attempts to kick, head or chest (yes, he did try that one) a football into a goal from anywhere between 12 and three yards out.
He has been injured, they said. He is not match fit, they said. It’s not his fault, they said. The first two sentiments were true. Lukaku had played only half an hour of football since doing his hamstring back in August.
But unfortunately for the Belgian, none of that excused his lamentable failure to shoot Belgium into the last 16 of the World Cup against Croatia on Thursday.
Lineker, Drogba and Shearer (hundreds of goals between them in their day) didn’t wish to bury Lukaku and that is understandable. There has been much more wrong with Roberto Martinez’s team than one malfunctioning centre forward.
But, still, they were wrong. This one was on Big Rom. You don’t have to be match fit to convert an open goal. Sorry, one of four open goals. You just have to be a big moment footballer.
And the plain truth is that Lukaku has never been one. He was a danger at Everton and he has scored goals for Inter. But given two opportunities to show his worth at the really top level — at Manchester United and at Chelsea — he bombed.
He arrived at Chelsea saying he had nothing to prove to anyone in the Premier League. Within months he was moaning to Italian TV that coach Thomas Tuchel wasn’t using him properly while fluttering his eyelashes at Inter once again.
That is where he plays his football once more now and that is very much his level. It’s OK, Serie A. But you get time to play in Italy. You get time to think. That’s why Tammy Abraham thrives there but didn’t in England, and it’s why Olivier Giroud scores goals at the age of 36 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic played there beyond the age of 40.
The World Cup is elite level. The Premier League is elite level. And Lukaku has been found wanting in both.
Big players seize big moments while the rest make excuses. Or, on this occasion, has three other people make them for him.
nubball
0
The blame is on the whole team,the trainer and players .The blame is on Everyone in the Belgia team .
that fatty missed a chance that look much harder to miss than score
Kkrexuke
0
I first hear the description "flat track bulky" on lukaku when he was at utd.
Vikacpruy
1
The blame is on the whole team,the trainer and players .The blame is on Everyone in the Belgia team .
Vikacpruy
0
I put the blame on the trainer .Where is Origi?Where is Bitishaui?
Vikacpruy
2
Lukaku was still suffering from injuries .He was not 100% fit to play .In the match between Brazil and Cameroon ,Brazilian strikers wasted hundreds of chances .
Z_i_k_k_0
0
stop the hate ... every body knows that lukaku is not fit because of injury... we saw Messi missing penalty two times already but all football is now becoming a scammer
Is that related to the article and for your information he missed a penalty not two
emondorock
0
Never was, just over priced overated and over sized.
Tuhceipstu
1
the only thought African countries are in love with bribe ok what happened in Belgium team imagine origi out lukaku with the injury in bashuayi in what a nonsense
KahunaLII
2
Divock Origi could have done better than all these Kangaroo strikers
Kuddknpsuy
0
Lukaka is another finished talent. He can join TP Mazembe
😂😂😂😂
samdeklmpy
1
Stop criticizing lukaku, the whole team was a disaster
Ceccmnouy
4
stop the hate ... every body knows that lukaku is not fit because of injury... we saw Messi missing penalty two times already but all football is now becoming a scammer
Jeailosy
2
I wonder why lukaku and bashuayi are being selected ahead of origi
Kukulenny89
0
then cr5 is an even smaller time player as he has missed 8 chances so far i this WC.
Ronaldo is 37, pushing 38. Lukaku is 30. Ronaldo at lukaku’ age scored a hattrick against Spain at the World Cup
lieemoprst
0
Belgium found out what the rest of the world has known for years. They should have gone with Origi who is absolute clutch, at scoring big game goals!
zibdiopsty
0
This one is now 'Rukaku' done and dusted thrived on luck not skill.
wueeknos
0
don't worry ronaldo is even worse
you are a great guy
wueeknos
3
over weight and old ,has declined in competence, Belgium needs to replace all the ageing players
Evans0323
0
Ask Chelsea fans or there Board they will tell you more about Lukaku the Lakaka 😁
pamiklnpy
0
while rom can score with head he opted to chest the ball.
AbdulZaks008
0
Leave my lukaku alone
sekabcotuy
3
lukaku is an old finished player, just retire him!
usghjdh
2
don't worry ronaldo is even worse
Yeyacopy
4
They underrated Origi in that kind of situation by not including him in their last starting lineup
Kezaluyz
2
then cr5 is an even smaller time player as he has missed 8 chances so far i this WC.
Wudcdint
0
Lukaka is another finished talent. He can join TP Mazembe
Zuueklnz
0
it's Roberto Martinez fault, he is a good player but at that moment he has no luck, he need to take off and send someone to try their luck,
darrenham
3
He wears the wrong boots that day because of sponsor wanting him to wear brew boots... He left his scoring boots at home
Jeevan14ry
0
even when he was scoring goals at Inter, i was questioning myself how he is a striker or even a player. At Chelsea........
Zowcmnopry
0
Worst striker ever been watching has game for years big moment lay in egg
teeacdlpr
0
awful player
eggosa91
0
lukaku was with Henry 🥺
Menquez
0
He is not even a stricker lol