Vertonghen: Lukaku Can Regain Top Form, Belgium Can Advance to Knockouts

Belgium international Jan Vertonghen expressed his confidence in team-mate Romelu Lukaku during a press conference on Tuesday, stating that despite the striker’s underwhelming performance and missed opportunities in their opening UEFA Euro match against Slovakia, which led to a surprising 0-1 defeat, he is certain that Lukaku will bounce back stronger and lead the Belgian team to recovery.

Vertonghen said, “Lukaku is resting at the hotel now. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet, but I know him, he always draws strength from experiences, whether they’re successes or failures.” He emphasized the unique pressure faced by forwards, adding, “That’s life as a striker – one game you’re a hero, the next you’re the target. I believe this pressure will motivate him to perform even better.”

Commenting on Lukaku’s disallowed goal due to VAR offside decision, Vertonghen shared mixed feelings about the role of technology in modern football rules: “Nowadays, I almost never celebrate a goal straight away except for long-range efforts because so many are disallowed for various technical reasons, which takes some of the joy out of football. I only found out the goal was invalid after applauding it. While slow-motion reviews improve accuracy, they also detract from the flow and immediate excitement of the game.”

Regarding the team’s mood after the opening loss, Vertonghen revealed a sense of disappointment, especially given their expectations of securing all three points in what was considered a winnable match: “Unlike the defeat to Italy in 2016 where we had few chances, this time we created opportunities, had two goals disallowed – it’s extremely frustrating. But there are two more games, and the door to the knockout stage isn’t closed. We won’t give up; we just need to be more clinical.”

Looking ahead to their match against Romania, Vertonghen acknowledged the opponent’s strength: “They’ve shown their quality through their performance in the qualifiers, especially in a competitive group. We won’t underestimate them.”

On his own future with the national team, Vertonghen remains open-minded: “I’ll decide whether this is my last major tournament after the Euros. I’ll enjoy my holiday first and then consider my future based on this Euro experience. I’m enjoying every moment here, and I’m aware of the increasing importance of my role in the team.”