Inter Milan vice-president Javier Zanetti says Romelu Lukaku’s missed chances against Croatia at the World Cup was due to injury
On-loan from Chelsea, Lukaku is being blamed for Belgium’s flop after a frustrating tournament in Qatar.
“I wrote to him after the game, it’s really sad, because he did so much to be there,” Zanetti told ESPN after Lukaku’s series of misses in the draw with Croatia.
“He was coming off a long injury, Belgium waited for him and in the end he managed to play one half. Games like that happen for strikers, I said the same to Lautaro Martinez after Saudi Arabia: when you score, everything changes in your mind.
“Lukaku leaves the World Cup after having several chances to score, both with his feet and his head. He also hit the woodwork, so was unlucky.
“As for the final chance, he wasn’t expecting it, the defender in front was shielding his view.”