Blues in recent years have become the scarecrows of a very specific nation: Belgium. If the football rivalry has always existed between France and its northern neighbor, the 2018 World Cup and the victory of Didier Deschamps' men over the Red Devils in the semi-finals have never been really digested by Outre-Quiévrain. The pain was therefore revived intensely during the last euro.
It was in the round of 16, and on the same narrow score of 1-0 that the Blues eliminated their Belgian counterparts once again. The time too much for Romelu Lukaku, who particularly experienced this disappointment suffered on a cruel goal against his Jan Vertonghen camp. “” I was very upset after elimination against France “, Confides this Thursday before the press the Napoli striker, admitting to having wanted to hang up his international crampons.
“Difficult to digest the euro”
“” I spoke with Jan Vertonghen in the locker room. I explained to him that I did not feel it, that there was a problemcontinues the one who has already endorsed 120 capes and scored 85 goals for Belgium (a record). I then chained with a complicated summer compared to Chelsea and my transfer. I took time for myself then Vincent Mannaert
(the sports director of the Belgian Football Federation) offered me a new project with the national team. I told myself that I didn't want to stop like this … »»
Today, everything is better for the interested party, in club as in the selection, but the episode of last summer left traces. “”
It was difficult to digest the euro. It was a pretty toxic climate and the results were not there. I do not react well in defeat. It has always been my strength too, it may be to open a little more … There are a lot of things that I have not accepted at the Euro. Same for other players, but all of this is behind us now. We have to give pride to our supporters. The inner flame has returned. (…) I said to myself: “Go ahead, we continue”. We try to create something new. »»
