Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen told the media in a press conference on Tuesday that despite teammate Romelu Lukaku’s poor performance in their European Championship opener against Slovakia, where he missed several key scoring chances leading to Belgium’s 0-1 upset loss, he is confident that Lukaku can overcome this setback and return stronger, leading the Belgian team to recovery.
Vertonghen said: “Lukaku is currently resting at the hotel, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. But I know him, he always finds strength from his experiences, whether they are successes or failures.” Vertonghen also emphasized the specificity of the striker position, making it a focal point of criticism, “That’s the life of a striker, one game you’re a hero, the next you’re the target of everyone’s criticism. I believe this pressure will inspire him to perform better.”
Regarding Lukaku’s disallowed goal for offside by VAR, Vertonghen expressed complex feelings about the technological intervention in modern football rules: “Nowadays, I hardly celebrate goals immediately, except for long-range shots far from the goal, because too many goals are being canceled for various technical reasons. This, to some extent, diminishes the fun of football. I myself was celebrating the goal, only to learn later that it was invalid. While slow-motion replays increase the accuracy of offside calls, it also reduces the flow of the game and the instant excitement.”
Regarding the team’s atmosphere after the opening loss, Vertonghen revealed that the team did feel a heavy blow, especially considering their expectation of taking all three points in what was considered a winnable match. “Unlike the loss to Italy in 2016, where we had little to no opportunities, this time we created chances, and two goals were canceled. This was extremely frustrating. However, we have two more games, the door to qualification is not closed, and we won’t give up easily. We just need to seize our opportunities better.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming match against Romania, Vertonghen gave the opponents the respect they deserve: “They have proven their strength through their performances in the qualifying round, especially standing out in a highly competitive group. We will never underestimate them.”
At the same time, he also maintains an open attitude towards his future in the national team: “Regarding whether this is my last major tournament, I plan to decide after the European Championship. I will first enjoy my vacation, and then consider my future based on this European Championship experience. I enjoy every moment here, and I know my role in the team is becoming increasingly important.”
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