Lukaku breakthrough for Belgium in friendly draw

Lyndon Lloyd , 2 June, 21comments | Jump to most recent

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to score an 89th-minute equaliser for his country as they were held by Finland in their pre-Euro2012 warm-up match.

Having beaten Switzerland in their last outing, the Red Devils were hoping to keep up their momentum by beating the Finns but fell behind nine minutes into the second half to Kasper Hà¤mà¤là¤inen's goal.

Belgium would have 35 shots on goal in all compared with Finland's nine but it wasn't until after Lukaku was introduced as a substitute with 11 minutes left that they were able to belatedly equalise.

It was Lukaku's third goal in as many internationals, the 23-year-old hitting form at the right time after experiencing barren spells for both club and country.

Just two Premier League goals for Everton since the turn of the year meant he would fail to reach to 20 league goal milestone this season while prior to this run for Belgium he had scored just twice for his country since the 2014 World Cup.

Nevertheless, the ex-Chelsea striker retains his self-confidence, telling FourFourTwo magazine in a current interview that he believes himself to be "among the best strikers in the world, so that is good."

Reader Comments (21)

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Sam Hoare
1 Posted 02/06/2016 at 07:51:11

Have a good Euros and we might just get the £65m fee the media has invented for him.

Mike Allen
2 Posted 02/06/2016 at 08:44:48

Just an arrogant lazy bighead who thinks he's better than he is yes. His goals may well have kept us up but not, for me, he's not a footballer – just someone who plays football... there is a difference.

Steve Bingham
3 Posted 02/06/2016 at 09:23:44

Should add to his value .. And his ego !

Kevin Rudge
4 Posted 02/06/2016 at 09:38:30

Training for bench work... where he will definitely end up at a 'big club'.

Joe O'Brien
5 Posted 02/06/2016 at 10:29:19

Keep banging them in, solely for your resale value. I'm not interested in anything you do other than that.

Eugene Kearney
6 Posted 02/06/2016 at 10:38:26

He's started to score again now that he's already (in his mind) left Everton.

There never was any hope of this guy settling here – mumbling unclear, yet unsettling things to the Belgian press on international breaks even in his first season.

Yeah... hopefully these recent goals will get us the 㿭M.

Darryl Ritchie
7 Posted 02/06/2016 at 11:00:43

To paraphrase a 1960's western, "Have ego! Will travel!". Keep scoring, big guy. The more you score, the more we score. Every goal is a few extra million in our kitty.

Ian Guignet
9 Posted 02/06/2016 at 11:22:44

Keep banging them in kid. All adds to the sell on value.

Gareth Clark
10 Posted 02/06/2016 at 11:28:51

I want him to score as much as possible – raise that value (and also other clubs will start to forget his shit attitude and laziness when things aren't going the way he wants them to).

Personally I feel he would fit in perfectly at PSG – now that Zlatan's gone.

A league where second place team is 31 points below PSG – he wouldn't have to work much, and he'd be in the Champions League – and his goal scoring record would be great while PSG destroy every team in the league. Plus he won't be at a Premier League club.

Trevor Lynes
11 Posted 02/06/2016 at 11:37:12

I just hope that Mr Moshiri can persuade him to stay as he will be extremely difficult to replace.

Tom Bowers
12 Posted 02/06/2016 at 11:55:58

He is a proven goalscorer at the top level and he knows what he now wants and is going for it. Nothing wrong with ambition and, with Everton in transition and not in Europe, I would look for pastures new also.

Plenty of others out there so let's get the big money for him and get shopping.

Frank Mullin
13 Posted 02/06/2016 at 13:06:38

If Rom feels he's "amongst the best strikers in the world" who are we, mere mortals, to argue? Then again, maybe something was lost in translation and he meant "amongst the best strikers at Goodison Park".

The man who has failed to challenge for, let alone win, a ball in the air all season, whose first touch remains the stuff dreams (or more accurately... nightmares) are made of, and who is clearly not a team player in any shape or form, needs to be shipped out post haste for anything north of 㿞m.

He has to be the laziest lump on the planet, the worst penalty taker I've ever seen, and is disrespectful to the club and it's supporters every time he opens his big mouth. We don't need him or his ego at this club. On yer bike.

Mark Pringle
14 Posted 02/06/2016 at 13:49:19

It's the same in any workplace, you have someone who is good at what they do and they then slacken off because they are allowed to and they get away with it. Under proper management, an employee would not normally get away with some of Rom's behaviour, so let's hope we get to see what happens with him being managed properly.

We have been crying out for a 20-goal-a-season man for years and while I think his constant mouthing off about a move, his pain-in-the-hole dad, and his slacking off towards the end of the season is all a disgrace, I would still rather keep him and let a Koeman or an Emery boot his arse into shape!!

Worst case, though, we get silly money for him... but regular top level goalscorers are few and far between!! Be careful what we wish for!!

Sue Brown
15 Posted 02/06/2016 at 14:44:32

Just wish his work rate had of been as good as his ego! He certainly doesn't work with the team and seams to believe his own bullshit.

Eugene Kearney
16 Posted 02/06/2016 at 15:41:42

Gareth#10 - Yeah, PSG will be a nice wee cushy number for him. All he'll have to do is stand around and let the footballers pass the ball to him to score......and earn twice the salary Everton was giving him.

Brian Porter
17 Posted 02/06/2016 at 16:01:07

What a goal! Bundled over the line with his chest from six inches off the goal line. Not exactly a Messi style run, swerve, and shot was it, Rom?

Paul Tran
18 Posted 02/06/2016 at 16:57:07

He scored plenty of goals in a poorly managed and de-motivated team that gave him little service. What would he do in a well-managed, motivated team? I'd love to find out, preferably at Goodison next season.

Martin Mason
19 Posted 02/06/2016 at 17:06:55

I'd sooner see the bloke stay and score those goals for a revitalised Everton. Rom isn't a lone striker so it was always stupid to play him as one and nobody can play with the abysmal service he received for the team once we started going down the pan. Lukaku is brilliant and a 30 goal a year striker in a team that plays well but more importantly to his strengths. He can't be replaced in today's market whatever we get for him.

Anthony Dwyer
20 Posted 02/06/2016 at 23:15:32

Im with you Martin, Rom is the hardest player to replace in our current squad.

Goalscorers are never easy to find, hence the fact all the top teams seem to be chasing our goalscorer.

Also what other top forward wants to join us when we are not in the champions league.

Even Arsenal have struggled to attract a top forward.

He has too much to say for himself, but if every other club can put up with it then maybe we should.

Jay Harris
21 Posted 03/06/2016 at 17:56:18

His goals may be difficult to replace but his ego, attitude and lack of engendering team spirit will be easy to replace.

WE also don't need a big lump who creates breakaways for the opposition by his poor passing and inability to hold the ball up.

If we can coax the right price out of anyone I am for packing him on the first plane out of the club.

Trevor Lynes
22 Posted 05/06/2016 at 17:29:28

Rom just scored against Norway.

Lets see how many Barkley scores for England.

Rom must stay as we cannot replace his goals !!

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