A hobbled Romelu Lukaku will be the scapegoat, but the fact is Belgium was stale, awful and, in Kevin De Bruyne’s words, “too old,” to compete at this World Cup.
AL RAYYAN, Qatar — At the final whistle, with Belgium eliminated from the World Cup after a 0–0 draw with Croatia, Romelu Lukaku stood by the touchline in front of the Belgium bench, doubled over in anguish. Beside him, with a hand on his shoulder, stood Belgium’s assistant coach, Thierry Henry. But there was no consolation that could remedy this all that quickly. Lukaku eventually stood and, after punching the side of the dugout, sat down.