Lukaku calls Senegal Belgium's toughest World Cup test
Belgium await in the last 16
Your team plays Belgium Wednesday in the World Cup round of 16 (1) (4) (5) (7). Group I is done, two losses, the last one 3–2 to Norway with Haaland running the show. None of that matters now. It's knockout football.
Lukaku: Senegal are Belgium's toughest test
Romelu Lukaku told Belgian media flat out: "Senegal will be our toughest opponent of the tournament" (7). He doubled down in a separate press appearance, "We really must not underestimate them" (6). The Belgian camp is not treating this lightly.
Honduran referee gets the whistle
A 34-year-old Honduran referee has been appointed for the match (4). He has officiated finals before and handled a notable Lionel Messi fixture. Senegal know who they are dealing with.
Belgium's preparation: calm and confident
Reports from the Belgian camp describe a relaxed squad under Rudi Garcia heading into Wednesday (2). Leandro Trossard and Lukaku are central to the plan. Garcia has settled on his XI for Senegal, Belgian outlets are already running fan polls on the lineup (5).
Sources
- 1. nieuwsblad.be — Never change a winning team (of wel?): de keuzes van bondscoach Rudi Garcia voor Senegal
- 2. nieuwsblad.be — Onze chef sport stelt vast dat de rust bij de Rode Duivels is teruggekeerd: “Go with the flow”
- 4. hln.be — Hij floot al finales én een bijzondere match van Lionel Messi: 34-jarige Hondurees woensdag scheidsrechter bij België-Senegal
- 5. nieuwsblad.be — Met welke elf geraken we voorbij Senegal? Help de bondscoach en stel zelf de ideale ploeg samen
- 6. hln.be — “We mogen hen écht niet onderschatten”: goedlachse Romelu Lukaku is op zijn hoede voor Senegal
- 7. nieuwsblad.be — LIVE WK. “Senegal wordt onze moeilijkste tegenstander van het toernooi”: Romelu Lukaku wil Rode Duivels mee naar volgende ronde loodsen