Lukaku included in Belgium World Cup squad despite injury troubles
Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku was included in Belgium's World Cup squad on Friday after appearing to win his fitness battle. Lukaku is set to join goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel at a fourth World Cup. Lukaku has struggled for action with Napoli this term due to an array of knocks and Real Madrid's Courtois has also had injury issues.
Coach Rudi Garcia overlooked 17-year-old midfielder Nathan De Cat and Lois Openda, who has often been on the bench at Juventus. Belgium, third at the 2018 World Cup, begin Group G against Egypt on June 15 before taking on Iran and New Zealand in North America. They have warm-up games against Croatia on June 2 and four days later against Tunisia.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cupyer, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard