Belgium have some big expectations to live up to heading into Euro 2020. The Red Devils are the top-ranked team in the FIFA World Rankings, and this might well be their Golden Generation’s last best chance to win their first major international tournament.
If Belgium are to win the Euros, though, they will need a huge tournament from Romelu Lukaku. While Lukaku has been one of the top strikers in Europe for some time now, Euro 2020 is his opportunity to take the next step and join that exclusive list of truly elite players.
Read on below as SBOTOP states its case as to what is at stake for Lukaku heading into Euro 2020.
Lukaku massively improved at Inter Milan
It is no secret that Lukaku has been among the most prolific strikers in Europe over the last decade. He had his breakout season on loan at West Brom with 17 goals as a 19-year-old in 2012-13, and he has hardly stopped scoring since. After 87 goals in 166 games for Everton, he then had 42 goals in two seasons at Manchester United.
Despite his impressive statistics, though, Lukaku still wasn’t quite at the level of other top strikers like Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, and Luis Suarez. During his time in the Premier League, particularly with Man United, he had a reputation as a ‘flat track bully’ who beat up on inferior teams but consistently failed to show up in the big moments.
But Lukaku has finally started to shed that reputation since moving to Serie A, where he has found a home at Inter Milan. He scored 34 goals in his debut season for the Nerazzurri, who came in second in the league and also reached the final of the Europa League thanks in large part to Lukaku’s goals.
And Lukaku has been just as good this season. He is once again among the top scorers in Serie A and is on the verge of leading Inter to their first Scudetto in 11 years.
At 27 years of age, Lukaku has clearly matured in Milan, and in different ways. On top of his continued excellence in terms of goalscoring, he has also struck up a terrific strike partnership with Lautaro Martinez and has steadily improved his set-up play. Moreover, he has taken on more of a leadership role within the club, which has only added to his already significant value.
Belgium need Lukaku to lead
Lukaku’s rise as a more complete player has come at just the right time for Belgium, who need their star striker more than ever at Euro 2020.
Captain Eden Hazard has had two injury-hit seasons with Real Madrid, and even if he is somehow fit enough to play, it is looking unlikely that he will be able to make too many Euro 2020 highlights. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Dries Mertens may already be past his best, which would rob the Red Devils of one of their top goalscoring threats.
There are also lingering question marks in defence, with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen both older and no longer the world-class central defenders they once were and key defensive midfielder Axel Witsel likely to miss the tournament with an Achilles injury.
But even with those glaring concerns, the Euro 2020 betting odds still back Belgium as one of the top favourites to win the tournament, and with good reason. With Lukaku – Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 57 goals in 89 caps – and Kevin de Bruyne, they have two of the top players in the entire tournament who can lead the Red Devils to another deep run.
Ballon d’Or now a possibility for Lukaku
Much has been made about Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe taking over as the next big superstars with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo advancing in age. Meanwhile, the goalscoring exploits of Robert Lewandowski make it hard to deny his status as Europe’s top player this season.
However, Lukaku’s place in the pantheon of Europe’s elite players should not be overlooked. Although Lewandowski is currently the favourite, Lukaku might be the only player who could make a compelling enough case to challenge the Bayern striker for the Ballon d’Or this season.
It is looking very likely that Lukaku will lead Inter to the Scudetto, which would be the first domestic championship of his career. And if he does have a terrific Euros with Belgium, winning the Golden Shoe and leading his country to its first major title, then that might be enough to swing the Ballon d’Or in his favour.
Without a doubt, Lukaku deserves recognition as one of the top players in football with his fantastic form over the last couple of years. But the prospect of Euro 2020 triumph with Belgium — and a potential Ballon d’Or to boot — would put any remaining reservations about Lukaku’s status as a true European elite to bed once and for all.
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