World Cup 2022: Romelu Lukaku set to miss Belgium's first two games with injury, could be out for longer

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 20/11/2022 at 18:57 GMT

Romelu Lukaku has dealt Belgium a huge blow ahead of their World Cup bow, with the Inter Milan striker likely to miss Belgium's first two games, and he could be out for longer that with his recovery timeline still unclear. Lukaku is the latest player to suffer from injury problems in the run-up to the Qatar showpiece, after the likes of Sadio Mane and Karim Benzema both had to withdraw.

Belgium have been dealt a big blow ahead of their World Cup bow against Canada on Wednesday, with star forward Romelu Lukaku set to miss not just that encounter, but possibly the entirety of the group stages.

The first two matches will definitely come too soon for the Inter Milan frontman, and his niggling thigh complaint may also rule him out beyond that too.

Lukaku's absence is not only a setback for Roberto Martinez's side, but also for the tournament as a whole, with global stars Sadio Mane and Karim Benzema among those already forced out of their Qatar showpiece with injury in the last few days.

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According to Brazilian outlet Globo, Lukaku did not train on Sunday in Belgium's first public session since arriving in Doha, as he struggles to overcome the problem that he first contracted in August with Inter.

After facing Canada, Belgium's second and third games in Group F are against Morocco and Croatia respectively.

• Rudiger says that Germany cannot be counted out of World Cup despite form
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Despite Lukaku's absence, the Red Devils are one of a number of teams in contention for the World Cup, as evidenced by their FIFA rank of No. 2 going into the tournament.

Romelu Lukaku con la nazionale del Belgio

Image credit: Getty Images

Kevin De Bruyne remains their key man, with the likes of Real Madrid pair Thibaut Courtois and Eden Hazard hoping to provide quality around the Manchester City schemer.

• 2022 World Cup in Qatar fixtures and results
• 2022 World Cup in Qatar groups
• 2022 World Cup in Qatar top scorer

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