Romelu Lukaku has launched a scathing assessment of Belgium’s performance after their 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in the first leg of their UEFA Nations League A qualification final.
The veteran striker, who scored Belgium’s only goal of the match, expressed frustration over his teammates’ lack of intensity and fight, calling for a stronger mentality within the squad.
Lukaku, who has Congolese heritage, highlighted Belgium’s struggles in pressing and winning duels, particularly in midfield, which he believes contributed to their downfall.
The former Inter Milan and Chelsea forward pointed to a larger issue, suggesting that the current Belgian squad lacks the winning mindset of previous generations.
“It was about winning the duels, and we had problems putting pressure. That was abundantly clear.
“Especially in midfield, there was not enough pressure. We didn’t find any solutions and that’s a shame. But after that, it’s just about honour.
“It’s a matter of mentality. We have a mental problem. I compare it to the previous generation. We have to cultivate a mentality as a team again because then we won’t concede any goals. That’s where it starts, winning duels.”
Despite his personal milestone of reaching 86 international goals—making him the sixth highest active scorer in international football—Lukaku’s frustration was evident.
Belgium now faces a crucial second leg, where they must overturn the deficit to avoid further embarrassment in their Nations League campaign.
