For Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, calling up <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/belgiums-romelu-lukaku-likely-to-miss-first-two-games-23256595" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Romelu Lukaku</a> for a couple of European Championship qualifiers was a no brainer. Even though the striker&rsquo;s season-long loan deal to Roma was only completed Thursday &ldquo;ending uncertainty over his future and a standoff with Chelsea&rdquo; and Lukaku having not played so far this campaign.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2023/sep/Tedesco_e.jpg" alt="Domenico Tedesco" width="1280" height="720" /> Domenico Tedesco
Tedesco said he closely followed the developments that led to Lukaku&rsquo;s move at Roma, and that he knew how seriously the striker trained despite the offseason Chelsea row. &ldquo;I know that he was training. He was training with Chelsea too, of course, but also individually,&rdquo; Tedesco said after including Belgium&rsquo;s record scorer in the 24-man squad. &ldquo;For us it was not a question to invite him or not, because I think you saw in the last games how important he is. Not just as a player, also for the changing room. He is a leader. He is a top striker, and a top human,&rdquo; Tedesco added.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/lukaku-scores-hat-trick-as-belgium-sink-sweden-3-0-23277342" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Lukaku treble sees Belgium sink Sweden 3-0</a>
Belgium, which is second in Group F three points behind Austria but with a match in hand, takes on Azerbaijan on Sept. 9 then hosts Estonia three days later. The 2024 Euro tournament takes place in Germany. Tedesco said he will have more certainties about Lukaku&rsquo;s fitness after a few days of preparations starting next week at Belgium&rsquo;s training camp. In the absence of stalwarts Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, Tedesco insisted on the need for inspirational players in the squad. &ldquo;We have some leaders, and Romelu is one of them,&rdquo; Tedesco said.
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Belgium, which is second in Group F three points behind Austria but with a match in hand, takes on Azerbaijan on Sept. 9 then hosts Estonia three days later.

Lukaku is a leader, says Belgium coach Tedesco

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Lukaku is a leader, says Belgium coach Tedesco

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