As so often happens, on Sunday evening the Belgium national team struggled more than it really should.
Marc Wilmots struggled to get the best of the country’s collection of superstars and Roberto Martinez is finding life just as difficult.
In five crazy minutes towards the end of the match, Belgium went ahead, only for Greece to equalise, and then Romelu Lukaku scored the winner for his country.
Lukaku is settling into life well at Manchester United and that can only help his national team, especially if the associated pressure provides an additional motivation.
Belgium’s hero was quizzed after the match, and asked about a difficult evening. DH quote the Manchester United striker as saying: “The defender was irritating. Both verbally and physically. But I don’t care. I won and he lost.”
After scoring Lukaku turned to the Greek fans and put his hands to his ears, and later explained why: “Because they were also irritating me, I had lasers in my eyes, but I expected it. What is the most fun in football is to win matches that take place under such conditions.”
Clearly very happy with his evening’s work, and annoying the Greek team and fans, Lukaku was asked how he celebrated: “I first prayed on my knees and thanked God for everything he did for my team and for me, and then I called my mum. It’s better to celebrate this qualification modestly rather than euphorically, as if we were world champions.”
Jose Mourinho will whoeheartedly approve of everything his Manchester United striker said.
